•130 species of freshwater Sow Bugs in North America
Over 2000 land and ocean dwelling species
Relatively tolerant of organic pollution
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Family: | Asellidae |
Identification Tips:
• Typically 5-20 mm long
• Very flattened top to bottom
• 7 pair of walking legs; progressively longer towards the tail
• enlarged claws on most forward legs
• Plates cover bases of legs
Life History:
• Live in most shallow water habitats
• Slow moving crawlers that avoid light
• Scavenge organic material from stream bottom, eat smaller invertebrates and consume live plant material
• Most live for one year, reproducing once
• Females brood eggs in a 'marsupium' and carry them for up to 30 days after hatching
| POLLUTION TOLERANCE | ||||
| Very Sensitive | Somewhat Sensitive | Facultative | Somewhat Tolerant | Very Tolerant |
| Most | ||||
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Primary Information Source:
Voshell, J. Reese. 2002. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company. Blacksburg, Virginia.
