Habits of the sow bug,
Porcellio scaber LATREILLE, that is, their termite shelter preference, daily behavior, aggregation effect of excreta, and breeding period, were observed under laboratory conditions and in field investigations in Sapporo. Sow bugs preferred termite shelters most and did not select rotten timber. No traces of gnawing were found on naturally deteriorating fir timber. Under laboratory conditions (in the petri-dish with humidified vermiculite), sow bugs were nocturnal, prowling around at night. The males and the females might be found aggregated perfectly in association with feces only of the same sex. Based on a field study, the breeding period of sow bugs was presumed to be from June to September.
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