They are often found in large numbers in most regions, with many species (shrews, centipedes, toads, spiders and even some birds) preying on them.

It has also colonised North America, South Africa and other regions including the remote sub-Antarctic Marion island, largely through human activity.

[7] Porcellio scaber has an oval body, can grow up to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) long, and is usually a grey colour, paler underneath, although, brown, blue, yellow, orange, or pinkish hues may also be observed.

[9] Porcellio scaber is a detritivore – it mainly feeds on decaying leaf litter but will consume any rotting plant matter.

[11] The females carry about 25 to 90 fertilized eggs until they hatch and are held in a fluid-filled sac at the ventral side of the abdomen for about 40–50 days.

[12] To attempt to find an environment where they lose less moisture and then stay there, P. scaber alter factors such as speed and rate of turning (orthokinesis and klinokinesis).

To avoid desiccation, most woodlice (including P. scaber) exhibit thigmokinesis, slowing down or stopping when in contact with multiple surfaces (such as the corner of a box or a crack between two bricks).

[13] Unlike the 'roller' species of woodlouse, such as Armadillidium spp., which are able to curl into a ball to defend themselves, P. scaber is a 'clinger' and adopts a posture of tonic immobility when faced with the threat of predation.