Woodlice

[Ava]

I just saw a baby woodlouse in the soil my chilli seedling is growing in. Three questions:

1. Is it likely to eat the seedling?
2. What should I do about it if so (it seems to live under the soil)?
3. Do you get woodlice in fresh bags of compost, or is it only if the bag is left open outside (that's probably where it came from as I repotted yesterday and the plant is indoors)

[rainbowgardener]

Had to look up woodlouse... turns out to be what I know as pill bug or sow bug (but they have many different common names). Anyway, no the bug (actually a crustacean, not insect, more related to crabs), will not eat your seedlings. They are detritovores, they eat dead/ decaying stuff and help break it down and recycle it. They are common in compost piles, part of the composting cycle. I don't buy bagged compost, so I'm not sure if they would come in it, but surely their eggs could.

Don't worry about them.