Pillbugs

Pillbugs, often called pill woodlice or roly-polies, are small terrestrial crustaceans in the suborder Oniscidea, within the order Isopoda. They are among the few crustaceans that have adapted to life on land and occur in a wide range of moist habitats. A distinctive feature is their ability to roll into a ball when threatened, a behavior known as conglobation.

Most pillbugs belong to the family Armadillidiidae, including the common species Armadillidium vulgare. Not all woodlice can roll completely into a ball, however, and some species curl only partially. Adults typically range from several millimeters to a couple of centimeters in length and have a hard, segmented exoskeleton in shades of gray, brown, or beige.

Habitat and ecology: Pillbugs prefer damp environments with plenty of organic matter, such as leaf litter under logs, stones, and in compost piles. They breathe through small structures on the underside of the body and require moist air to avoid desiccation. They feed primarily on decaying plant material, fungi, and occasionally fresh vegetation.

Reproduction and development: Pillbugs are dioecious, with separate sexes. Females carry eggs in a brood pouch formed by the female's pleopods until the young hatch. The juveniles, called mancae, resemble small adults and molt several times before reaching maturity. They play a role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in many ecosystems.

Relationship with humans: Pillbugs are generally harmless to humans and property. They can become noticeable in gardens or homes during moist conditions and may be considered pests only when present in large numbers. They are widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions, excluding some arid climates and Antarctica.