A pillbug is also known as a roly poly. It receives its name because it curls up into a ball for protection when it feels threatened. It is native to the edge of the Mediterranean and is a beautiful, fascinating creature.
The first thing I learned when researching pillbugs is that they are not insects, they are isopods. An Isopod is any member of the order Isopoda (class Crustacea), that includes marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species. Pillbugs are terrestrial crustaceans!
In general, terrestrial isopods mate in spring. After mating, the female pillbug lays her eggs into a fluid-filled pouch called a marsupium where the eggs will remain for two or three months until they hatch. Upon hatching, the juvenile pillbugs will stay in the marsupium for three or four days before emerging from the pouch.
Its body is dark gray and their outer shell is divided into these small plates. It is propelled by seven pairs of legs, and it has a pair of antennae that are constantly feeling the landscape as it roams. The dwell both on the surface and in the soil. The seek out damp habitats, so you will usually find them places like under leaves, rocks, logs, etc. The recent rains have moistened the environment, and I am seeing lots of pillbugs out exploring. Accompanying the recent rain is an abundance of leaves falling to the ground and beginning to decay. Pillbugs are detritivores, so they happy right now.
References:
Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology
Featured Creatures
University of Florida
