How to Find Isopods

[Chris52]

Hello! I have several threads with pictures of amazing isopods that people have found. I have wanted to search for them for a while, but I never seem to find any. How do you find all of these isopods? Anything would be appreciated. (I live in southern Ohio if that helps.) Thank you!

 

[Aquarimax]

It depends on the species somewhat, but I find most isopods under boards or rocks, especially in shady/moist areas. In my area (Utah) these days, they are mostly Armadillidium vulgare...I used to find Porcellio scaber, but I don't see them much around here anymore.

 

[Hisserdude]

Try looking under large rocks, and under leaf litter. If you got any woods by you, that's a great place to find some isopods.

 

[Chris52]

Okay. I will search our local woods. Thank you!

 

[ErinM31]

When living in the Chicago area, I would find them in regular yards under wood (such as that lining a garden or flower bed) and in dry leaves, mulch and such. I imagine that they would be common in most wood, only I find NONE in the wooded area around where I live on the edge of San Antonio, despite ABUNDANT decaying leaves and wood, some of which is covered with lichen or fungi. In fact, digging through this detrivore buffet in multiple locations, I found almost NONE of what I would have expected, only the occasional grass spider or beetle, sometimes ants, and empty snail shells. Digging in the dirt, I would not find much more, only more empty snail shells and once in a while a tiny millipede or centipede. Perhaps ants drove them away??? I learned from speaking with one of the landscapers that work around the buildings that he used to find tarantulas all the time -- 2 years ago, but not anymore. Ants could be a problem for them too. I don't know what else to reasonably hypothesis. Anyway, thirty minutes away from this forested area where one would expect to find them, at the main campus of my school, I looked in the mulch and was overjoyed to find an ABUNDANCE of Armadillidium vulgare -- some of wonderful size and coloring -- as well as more of what I would expect to find in such an environment -- more small millipedes and centipedes and some earthworms near the surface (I know that centipedes are not detrivores, but I am used to seeing them in similar places). I think I was collecting there for half an hour -- a few people were curious but they seemed used to occasionally sighting a mad scientist! xD The dean even sent his assistant out with a jar for me to collect my specimens in (I had been using an empty water bottle which was a bit more difficult).

All that to say, if you don't find them in one area -- even a seemingly "perfect" area -- do not despair and look in another location entirely and I am sure that you'll find them.

 

[pannaking22]

Under rocks, rotting wood, in mulch, under debris/trash in the yard, in mulch piles, etc. Pretty much if it can provide a dark and humid microclimate there's a decent chance you'll find isopods there. The day after it rains tends to be good for hunting too since the overall humidity is high so they may actually be wandering around instead of hidden. Good luck in your hunt!

Some people also place potato traps to try to catch more, but from what I've heard it works really well in drier areas or places where there are already plenty of isopods.

 

[Chris52]

Under rocks, rotting wood, in mulch, under debris/trash in the yard, in mulch piles, etc. Pretty much if it can provide a dark and humid microclimate there's a decent chance you'll find isopods there. The day after it rains tends to be good for hunting too since the overall humidity is high so they may actually be wandering around instead of hidden. Good luck in your hunt!

Some people also place potato traps to try to catch more, but from what I've heard it works really well in drier areas or places where there are already plenty of isopods.

What exactly is a "potato trap"? It also has been raining for past few days, so I will look around.

 

[Tenevanica]

I only find Armadillidium vulgare. I pull back blades of grass the come in contact with the foundation of my house. Isopod city.

 

[pannaking22]

What exactly is a "potato trap"? It also has been raining for past few days, so I will look around.

It's using a potato to catch isopods. You make a few holes in a potato and then leave it out overnight or for a couple nights and the isopods will come in because it's a nice humid retreat and basically an endless food supply for them.

From the site I first read about it:
"To make the potato trap, bore a 3/4-inch hole through the potato lengthwise, then close up one end of the hole with a small piece of the potato plug. Place the "trap" in the garden or any other place where sow bugs and pillbugs are abundant. Cover the trap with leaves, and leave it alone a few days. The pillbugs will come and feed inside the hole in the potato. To remove them, place the opening over a jar, and strike the potato to dislodge them. The potato trap is especially useful for collecting small or young isopods and rare species, too."

Here are a couple links that should help too.
https://insectopolis.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/potato-traps/
https://books.google.com/books?id=p...EIQTAI#v=onepage&q=isopod potato trap&f=false

 

[ErinM31]

If any of you try the potato trap method, let me know how it works for you. I bought one for such purpose but need to find an area to plcae it. Around here I think I'd end up with a potato-full of bitey ants and I don't think the main campus would appreciate me putting potatos in the mulch outside their main campus! XD

 

[Chris52]

I will try a potato trap. Is it possible that it's too cold for them here? It's been pretty cold here (a little over freezing) lately. Thank you!

 

[Tenevanica]

I will try a potato trap. Is it possible that it's too cold for them here? It's been pretty cold here (a little over freezing) lately. Thank you!

If you know where to look! Isopods overwinter under stones and pieces of wood, so you should find them in these places all year round. If it's very cold the potato trap probably won't work.

 

[InvertsandOi]

I've had some really good luck looking specifically in rotting hardwood bark, usually pretty plentiful around old fallen trees in woods.

 

[MWAInverts]

You'll be able to find then anywhere there's moisture and organic matter. Just be sure to keep an eye out for potentially dangerous wild animals like snakes, spiders etc because they tend to share the same habitats. Wear gloves

 

[blacksheep998]

Here on the east coast I've never had any issues finding isopods.

Kicking over any random rock or log will usually turn up a couple Porcellio scaber or Armadillidium nasatum. And with a little hunting I can generally find Armadillidium vulgare and Philoscia muscorum too. Sometimes if I'm lucky I'll find Oniscus asellus, Trachelipus rathkii, Porcellio spinicornis, or Porcellio laevis.

Those last few are pretty rare though. I have a specific place I can almost always find T. rathkii and P. spinicornis, but I'm not sure I've ever seen them anywhere else.

I wanted to start a colony of O. asellus last year, and in an entire summer of hunting I found only 6 of them. That was enough though and they're breeding nicely now.

And I don't think I've seen a P. laevis in a couple years.

 

[Chris52]

Decided to try out a potato trap since in warmed up, and the "bugs" are coming out. (I saw bees mating several times today.) I will leave it outside and check on it in the morning. It seems like we used to see roli-polies all the time a few years ago, when I of course wasn't interested in them. Hope I find some.

 

[Chris52]

SUCCESS AT LAST!!! I haven't gotten any isopods from the potato trap yet, but I found about two dozen under rocks at relatives house. I actually got bit by a snake (we think it was a garter), so I had to stop. I will need help with identifying them. Will post pics.

 

[Chris52]

You'll be able to find then anywhere there's moisture and organic matter. Just be sure to keep an eye out for potentially dangerous wild animals like snakes, spiders etc because they tend to share the same habitats. Wear gloves

Funny story... I actually got bit by a garter snake just as I was packing up my collecting supplies. I was wearing gloves, but they didn't do much for me.

 

[ErinM31]

SUCCESS AT LAST!!! I haven't gotten any isopods from the potato trap yet, but I found about two dozen under rocks at relatives house. I actually got bit by a snake (we think it was a garter), so I had to stop. I will need help with identifying them. Will post pics.

Congrats on the isopods and hope that bite's okay! Might be good to have a doctor see it anyway? As far as I know snakes aren't vectors for any disease, but I don't know.

While there are no isopods in the wooded area around me (maybe because it gets too dry in the summer? but then I don't know how the snails survive). Anyway, went to a park by the river this afternoon and there were BIZILLIONS of Amradillidium vulgare! I picked up a few with nice patterning to add to my gene pool.

I look forward to seeing pics of what you've collected!

 

[Chris52]