The Untouchable (or pooper-scooper) Woodlouse
By
Stella M. Turk MBE
Its day is as night
As it has no sight
And away from light
Its become quite white.
Ants treat it as a guest
And never a pest
As well as they might
For this little louse
Cleans up their house.
But horror!
Its said if they’re in the mood
It becomes a morsel of ant food!
Authors notes
Platyarthrus hoffmanseggii is a small white, blind woodlouse, mainly found in the nests of ants. It feeds on the faeces of its hosts which, in general, ignore it.
Stella M Turk MBE
September 1998