Why do woodlice actively move away from light during the day?
Answer
They are strongly negatively phototactic to prevent desiccation
Woodlice exhibit strong negative phototaxis, meaning their instinctive behavior is to move actively away from light sources. This reaction is a direct survival strategy linked to their respiratory needs. During daylight hours, they retreat to maximum darkness to shield their moisture-dependent respiratory surfaces from desiccation caused by exposure to light and the associated dry air or heat. They only emerge under the cover of night to forage for decaying matter, which is when they might be observed making quick movements across exposed surfaces before finding new shelter.
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