‘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
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, it has acquired more than 300 regional names in Britain alone, and many more in other languages (such as Gwrach y Coed, “witch of the wood”, in Welsh).
Continue reading...
The BriefWire