‘They are such neat, busy little folk’: the unexpected superpowers of the common woodlouse

This detritivore – known by a range of colourful names – tidies up our world and can withstand toxic pollution Revealed: the top 10 invertebrates of the year Chucky pig. Slater. Monkey pea. Roly-poly. Boat-builder. Butchy boy. Cheeselog. Hobbling Andrew. Wood pig. If there were a prize for the range and joyfulness of a creature’s English-language names, the humble woodlouse would undoubtedly triumph over its million-plus invertebrate rivals. Over centuries of easy cohabitation with humans, ...

By Patrick Barkham