woodlicce

[matshidiso tladi]

what is woodlice and what is their main dependent and independent role in the environment

[htcdude]

They're an invertebrate, about 35 different species exist in the UK.


Found somone on Yahoo who gave a good answer to your question about purpose:

"The beneficial effects of woodlice far outweigh any damage that they do. However, woodlice have an ill-deserved reputation as pests, mainly because they wander into houses at night, usually to escape supersaturation with water during wet weather. Woodlice may travel considerable distances during these nocturnal rambles. Some specimens have been found trapped inside a light shade of a bedroom on the first floor of a building. In the garden, woodlice rarely attack living plants, preferring to eat vegetation which has begun to decompose. In glasshouses, woodlice may occasionally nibble seedlings but they rarely do any significant economic damage. In the litter layer of deciduous woods, and on compost heaps, woodlice perform a vital role. They chew dead plants into small fragments and deposit these as faecal pellets which decompose rapidly. Woodlice may also graze fungal hyphae from leaves (Gunnarson, 1987) or their own faecal pellets (Hassall and Rushton, 1982; 1985) and this may form an important source of nutrients when the only food available is of poor quality. Deposition of faecal pellets containing fungal spores in deep moist leaf litter by woodlice may be important in stimulating decomposition in woodlands (Hassall et al., 1987). Thus, the feeding activities of woodlice speed up the decomposition process and help to return essential nutrients to the soil.

Apparently they also make a good sauce for seafood."


Nige

[the poacher]

as a young lad of about 12 i remember having a pet jackdaw,who besides steeling my elder sisters engagement ring and anything else remotely shiny,just loved woodlice we all laughed to see him hold one in his beak and go cross eyed before swallowing it down,seafood sauce though,like to know who thought that one up.lots of garlic i bet,anyone got the recipe

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by the poacher

seafood sauce though,like to know who thought that one up.lots of garlic i bet,anyone got the recipe

Wood-Louse Sauce Recipe - Cold Sauce Recipes

[artdemole]

Saw the sauce recipe but I think I'll keep to eating prawns....Woodlice have been known to be kept as pets....By the way Welcome to WAB.....