Oniscidea. Also known as pill bugs, slaters, cudworm, chisel-hog, chucky pigs, sow pigs and many many more! Woodlice are one of the few terrestrial crustaceans, so more closely related to lobsters than insects, in fact woodlice still breathe using gills. A woodlouse has 14 legs and an outer shell called an exoskeleton which they shed once they outgrow it. Woodlice feed on decaying matter and can be found in compost heaps or under rocks in UK gardens.

Ideal for biology animal behaviour investigations using a choice chamber or maze. 

We supply with some decaying leaves/humus for the woodlice to feed on, however we advise you use as soon as you can to ensure they are healthy. If you can't use immediately, keep outside in a sheltered location away from direct sun/rain for a few days. For longer storage we recommend you decant into to a tank of slightly damp soil with leaf litter and rotting wood.

As woodlice are native to Britain, they can be released into the wild once investigations have been completed. Ideally find a damp and dark area for release, e.g. under a rock, hedgerow and/or in a pile of leaves.

To complement your woodlice practicals we recommend this Field Studies Council woodlouse folding guide.

Pack of 10, 50 or 100, mixed species, ages and genders. All will be over 8mm long.

Please note that woodlice are not be available during very wet or cold weather - please therefore order in plenty of time - if unsure please contact us. When unavailable (or as a cheaper alternative) we suggest using maggots for animal behaviour practicals.

Mainland Britain

Our UK mainland delivery charges are as follows: (All figures are exc. VAT)

We send all items by Royal Mail 24. Please allow 2 days for us to dispatch, although it could be longer at busier times. This is a tracked service but NOT signed for, if you require a signed for service please select next day delivery.

For next day delivery, please order by 12 noon, item must be in stock. All stock levels are shown on the web, if showing as out of stock or prepared to order and required urgently, please contact us as we may have stock! Next day orders are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery by 1pm.

Drosophila are always dispatched on a Monday, please advise when ordering your preferred delivery week.

Our working hours are 9.30am - 4pm Monday - Thursday, 9am - 12pm Friday. Orders received outside these hours will be processed the next working day; orders are only dispatched Monday-Thursday (Monday-Wednesday for perishable items). Hours vary during school holidays but we are usually available via email.

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Northern Ireland

Sadly, due to the UK leaving the EU, we can no longer supply Northern Irish customers with any products the have codes starting with an 'L' or 'P'. This is due to the requirement for all live or preserved products to have an import licence specific to the customer purchasing and the product being purchased. As each licence takes 2 weeks to obtain, and involves a considerable amount of paperwork, we have made the difficult decision to stop offering these products to Northern Irish customers. We can still offer equipment, i.e. products with an 'E' code, as these simply require customs documentation.

We apologise for the inconvenience and if the legislation changes we will review our decision.

British Islands

Delivery charges to the Isle of Man, Channel Islands (including Jersey & Guernsey), Shetland, Orkney and all the other islands we've missed, are the same as to mainland Britain (see above). The main difference is that delivery is likely to take a little longer, and for this reason we cannot guarantee next day delivery.

In addition, we cannot ship any liquids, so any 'wet' specimen ordered will be sent vacuum packed rather than in a jar.

International Orders

We welcome international orders but please note only non-perishable and non-animal derivative items, i.e. only those with codes starting with an 'E', can be sent.

Buyer is responsible for all import duties and taxes. EU businesses need to supply an EORI number before we can ship.

EU Delivery: £22

Non-EU Delivery £28

If you wish to buy something very small/lightweight, or need urgent delivery, please contact us for a postage quote, otherwise standard charges apply.

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