General Description

Body oval shape with dull, grey segments. Head with a pair of eyes. Pair of short legs on each of the first seven body segments. Up to 2 cm long.

Biology

Slaters have small limbs underneath the segments at the tail end that act as "lungs". They are unusual in being crustaceans that live on land rather than in the sea so they are more closely related to crabs and prawns than other common insects or terrestrial arthropods. They spend most of their life hiding from the sun in damp, protected places as they dry out and die very easily. They feed on rotting vegetation.

Distribution

Europe, North America. Mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Under logs, stones or pots in gardens.

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