Pillbug
Introduction
Pillbugs sometimes are called "roly-polies" and get this common name because they roll up into a tight ball when disturbed. These land-dwelling crustaceans are arthropods but
not insects. They are worldwide in distribution. In the United States, the most common species is Armadillidium vulgare, which is in the family Armadillidiidae; it has worldwide
distribution.
Recognition
Adults are about 1/4-5/8 inch long, convex above but flat or hollow beneath. Color slate gray. Typical of crustaceans, pillbugs with seven pairs of similar legs; two pairs of antennae, one
tiny, the other readily visible; body dorsoventrally flattened. Capable of rolling up into a tight ball. Uropoda short and rounded, usually not visible from above.
Habits
Pillbugs are inactive and remain hidden under objects during the day to reduce water loss. During the day, they can be found around buildings in such places as under trash,
boards, rocks, flower pots, piles of grass clippings, flower bed mulches, and other decaying vegetation.
They occasionally enter buildings via door thresholds, especially homes with sliding glass doors on the ground level. Indoor invasion typically means that there is a large
population immediately outside the building. They usually do not survive indoors for more than a couple of days unless there are high moisture conditions and a food supply present.
Pillbugs are scavengers and feed on decaying organic matter, usually plant material, but occasionally animal. They cause no damage and are considered a nuisance pest indoors.
Outdoors, they occasionally injure young plants.
|
