Clearing the dead moss

Just look at the way it's put together, fascinating!

amazing creatures! i used to like watching these curl up into a ball when i was little, they lived under the crazy paving in the garden.

I squish them! ewwwwwww

I always feel guilty when I move a tub,and see them scurrying away....

They're good guys Pixi... You can't go exterminating everything that moves!!

lol ok! Sorry :(

I once heard that all the good guys are fast movers ...garden wise ! Lol.....they clear all the rubbish,Pixi ...:o)

oh dear I apologise to all Slaters!

Yes, Pixi, we call them slaters, too. I wonder, is this general throughout the country or just a Scottish thing?

Not sure..always called them that always hated them..but now I have respect! lol

never heard of slaters, where does that word come from?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jean_hort/3696795831/ jsut found this..dont know where the name came from tho.

Never heared of Slaters either... Jean in that link is from Western Australia. So I guess the name has travelled.

Maybe..I dont know :)

thanks pixi

it has all sorts of names

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse

Slaters
Talk about community living, their abundance knows no bounds. Slaters, also known as woodlice, sowbugs or pill bugs, generally ignore green plants, preferring decayed damp material. They are sensitive to hot, dry conditions and will die of dehydration if exposed too long, especially in their young moulting stages.

Slaters are beneficial insects in that they help breakdown organic matter, but if there is a population explosion, they have been known to dine on ripe, soft fruits touching the soil, such as strawberries, and very occasionally plant roots, and even young growth shoots.

Just looked as well Sticki.

Wiki

"Names include: "armadillo bug",[2] "boat-builder" (Newfoundland, Canada),[3] "carpenter" or "cafner" (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada),[4] "cheeselog" (Reading, Berkshire),[5] "cheesy bug" (North-West Kent),[6] "doodlebug" (also used for the larva of an antlion),[7] "pill bug" (usually applied only to the genus Armadillidium),[2] "potato bug",[8] "roly-poly",[8] "sow bug",[9] "roll up bug",[10] "chuggypig" or "chucky pig" (Devon),[11][12] "slater" (Scotland, New Zealand and Australia),[13][14][15] "gramersow" (Cornwall),[16] "butcher boy" or "butchy boy" (Australia),[17] and "wood bug" (British Columbia, Canada).[18]"

We are well educational this morning !!

Ah Scotland NZ and Oz! :)

Hahaha never googled so much in such a short sapce of time! lol

But they can eat strawberries and young shoots!

I like chuggypig best..butchy boy ?? mmm,not sure about that one ! Lol.Thanks for that,Pimms ..can't believe this little creature has so many varation of names..never heard of Slaters either ..

Simples,Pixi..don't grow strawberries lol ..and can't believe how quick you have both been,looking this up ! :o)

I dont have strawberries lol

They don't damage Strawbs Pixi..The slugs do that then the Slater (lol) comes for a nibble when the damage is already done.

I see,Pimms..sneaky little Slaters :o)

I'm surprised we Canadians have so many different names for them. Usually we are so agreeable ;)
Very informative you lot!
:)))

Look what you started, Pimpernel. Who would have thought this humble bug would give rise to so much discussion? It must be raining again!

Awesome close-up Pimp (added to my Favs). Woodlice in S.E. London but when I moved to Kent they were called Cheesy Bugs (as shown in the above list). Don't know what they're called here in Lancs, I'll have to ask around!

oh I see lol.

I just call 'em big wood lice!!

My OH has always called them flatbacks !..

Just wood lice for me as well...

Thanks Muddy ...

Thats right, Cheesy Bugs down here.
Always have been, Always will be!
Damm, I've got chocolate all over my keyboard, Lol.

Don't worry,Willi..i had crisps in mine the other day..sometimes it's Kit Kat ...but choccy digestives are the worst ! Lol.

Lol, it was crumbs off a big lump of Fruit & Nut.
I hate it when you get Digestive crumbs down your clevage, Lol.

I'm really hoping you are indeed female right now Willi ;0

I call them 'chookie pigs' an old fashioned name from a now 95 year old lady in wiltshire!!

Ha Lil, Whats wrong with Moobs! Lol.

Hahahaha! ;-))

We call them Piggy -wigs , I wonder why they didn't evolve into something that would cut grass ?

remind me of robot wars!

Slaters in Northumberland too. No idea why :-)

Coz the are the colour of slate?

Love it! :D

great shot pimp, it reminded me i saw a pinky-red one the other day whats all that about, it was regular size??
i like the cheesy bug name better than boaring old woodlouse! :o)