Cloporte

Le cloporte est un petit crustacé terrestre de l’ordre des isopodes, vivant surtout dans les lieux humides et sombres.

The cloporte, commonly known as the woodlouse, is a small terrestrial crustacean of the order Isopoda. It lives in damp, dark environments and feeds on decomposing organic matter, playing a key role in nutrient recycling. In Canada, woodlice are commonly found in moist soils, gardens, forests, and near human habitations, where they contribute to decomposition.

Classification and description

The woodlouse is a terrestrial crustacean of the order Isopoda, often described as a small animal with a segmented, flattened body. There are numerous species, and common names may cover several genera, including Armadillidium and Oniscus.

Habitat and mode of life

Woodlice inhabit damp, dark places rich in organic debris, such as undergrowth, gardens, under stones, and in stumps. Their terrestrial lifestyle is exceptional among crustaceans.

Alimentation and ecological role

Woodlice consume dead plant material and other decomposing organic matter. They thus participate in the recycling of organic matter and the return of nutrients to the soil.

Terminology and uses of the word

In French, 'cloporte' first designates the animal, but the word also has figurative or popular uses, sometimes pejorative, to describe a person considered insignificant or repulsive.