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Pond Animals |
Water Louse
Scientific
Name: Asellus
species.
Group:
Crustacea
Size:20mm
These animals are closely related to wood lice. Fourteen legs show that they are different from spiders and insects. They belong to the Crustacean family. The water louse is about 8mm long.
Position in food chain:
Secondary consumer (omnivore)
They eat:
detritus (dead plant and animal material)
They are eaten by:
water mites and other carnivores
The adult water louse with
its eggs
and young on its tummy.
Life cycle
The water louse carries its eggs and small young
on its tummy. The baby water lice look just like a smaller version of
their parents.
Find out more about the water louse
Canterbury Environmental Education Centre