When the young leave the pouch, they begin feeding and growing. The young resemble the adults except they are smaller and lighter in color. Sowbugs are cold-blooded and therefore inactive in the winter. With the arrival of spring, their activity increases and they remain active all summer. There may be one to two generations of sowbugs each summer.
Individuals live up to three years depending on weather conditions.
More Beneficial Than Harmful Sowbugs eat decaying leaf litter and vegetable matter. Thus they are some of nature's best recyclers. They break up decaying plant matter and help speed the return of the nutrients to the ecosystem. On occasion, sowbugs may feed on the tender tips of young plants. Such damage is more significant in the greenhouse than in the garden.