A woodlouse!
I got quite excited when I saw this little creature in our compost bin, but eventually discovered it is a feral common woodlouse or pill bug. Regardless of its "feral-ness" it is a fascinating little thing. When I touched it, it rolled up very quickly into a neat little ball. See the images in the the first comment box.
It is very primitive looking and is actually a land-living crustacean. There are a number of different species found in Australia. Some are native. They are scavengers and feed mainly on decaying organic matter and are usually considered beneficial.
More information: www.cesaraustralia.com/sustainable-agriculture/pestnotes/...
A woodlouse!
I got quite excited when I saw this little creature in our compost bin, but eventually discovered it is a feral common woodlouse or pill bug. Regardless of its "feral-ness" it is a fascinating little thing. When I touched it, it rolled up very quickly into a neat little ball. See the images in the the first comment box.
It is very primitive looking and is actually a land-living crustacean. There are a number of different species found in Australia. Some are native. They are scavengers and feed mainly on decaying organic matter and are usually considered beneficial.
More information: www.cesaraustralia.com/sustainable-agriculture/pestnotes/...