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Scientific Name: Armadillilium vulgare Nicknames: Wood louse or roly-poly bug, as they are known for this ability to roll into a ball. They are also often called potato bugs. Location: Pill bugs are common invertebrates that are found in many biomes around the world, including temperate forests, rainforests, and grasslands. Size: Pill bugs are less than an inch long
Pill Bug Appearance and Behavior The pill bug is a small, segmented land creature that is covered by a hard exoskeleton shell that looks like armor. They have three basic body parts; the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Pill bugs have 7 pairs of jointed legs and 2 pairs of antennae – but one pair is barely visible.
The antennae, mouth and eyes are located on the head. Many animals eat pill bugs and the main protection for the pill bug is rolling into a tiny armored ball, earning them the nickname “roly-poly.” The pill bug is not an insect but is an isopod. They are more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than to insects and are the only crustacean that has adapted to living their entire life on land.
They prefer moist areas, often living in soil and under decaying leaves, rocks, and dead logs. Pill bugs mostly eat decaying vegetable material like vegetables.
Why do they call them potato bugs?
A Potato Bug’s Menu – Jerusalem crickets and Colorado potato beetles are called potato bugs because of their diets. Jerusalem crickets can sometimes be found in potato fields eating the roots and tubers of potato crops. While the crickets have occasionally damaged commercial potato fields, they are not considered serious pests.
What are Rollie Pollies actually called?
Story – https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2017/07/invertebrate-zoology-worlds-largest-pill-bug.mp3 World’s Largest Pill Bug by Mandy Bemis Many people are familiar with Pill Bugs, also known as Rolly-Pollies. This little beauty here, whose scientific name is Bathynomus giganteus, is the largest Pill Bug in the world and he can be found right here in the deep waters off the Florida coast.
Despite the familiar body plan, I’ve often heard people say that this animal looks like an alien, and people have even gone so far as to say that he looks creepy, but Bathynomus is not without his share of adoring fans. If you find yourself drawn to this charismatic crustacean, you might consider showing your devotion by acquiring some of the Bathynomus -themed swag that is available for people like us, including stuffed animals, phone cases, tea strainers and even a CD.
Mandy Bemis Assistant Collection Manager, Invertebrate Zoology Florida Museum of Natural History
What kills Potatobugs?
9. Vinegar – The acidity of the vinegar will kill potato bugs and all kinds of bad plant pests, Therefore, combine one cup of vinegar, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and three cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and use it to spray your plants to kill nymphs and adults.
What do Americans call wood lice?
Pillbugs 01.jpg (Clay Wollney) Some of them you know well: Crabs, lobsters, crayfish and shrimp are familiar crustaceans, which are generally the aquatic branch of the arthropod class of animals. There are others, however, that have been able to make a living out of the water.
- The terrestrial hermit crabs that are commonly kept as pets are a well-known example of a terrestrial crustacean, but even these land-dwelling animals must return to the water to reproduce.
- The only truly terrestrial crustaceans are in the Oniscidea subfamily of isopods, which live and reproduce entirely on land.
More commonly these creatures are known as the woodlice, pillbugs, sowbugs or roly-polies and are frequently found in our backyards and woodlands. Some can roll up, but not all With wide oval bodies that are one-fourth to one-half inches in length, these creatures are unique and easily recognized.
- Unlike the three part body insects, woodlice have a number of broad plates covering the upper surface of their bodies.
- Their undersides are equipped with seven pairs of legs, another feature that differentiates them from the insects that have only six pairs of legs.
- Those that belong to the Armadillidium genus are able to roll up into a ball when threatened, hence the common names of armadillo bug, basketball bug, pill bug, and roly-poly.
This group has a domed exoskeleton that is usually gray in color, but develops a blue or purple tinge if it is infected with an iridovirus. Woodlice of the Porcellio genus have a flatter body that is usually brown in color and are frequently called sowbugs.
- These little crustaceans don’t roll up when threatened, but scurry away as fast as possible.
- Need moist environments As members of the otherwise aquatic crustacean class, it’s not surprising that woodlice prefer moisture and shade.
- Their breathing apparatus are essentially gills enclosed in a moist chamber.
Since they lose water rapidly through their exoskeletons their very survival depends on a highly humid environment around them. Due to the necessity of moisture, woodlice can be found living just about any place where the humidity is high and decaying plant matter is available.
- Decaying logs and under flat rocks are the places they find the conditions needed for their natural habitat.
- A popular behavior lab in high schools and college involves the way woodlice respond to a stimulus.
- Some exhibit kinesis, which involves rapid movement until the right conditions are found at which time movement the animal slows down.
Other animals exhibit taxis: the animal moves directly toward or away from a stimulus. When placed in a large tray with a moist paper towel on one side and dry towel on the other, the woodlice would move around randomly until they happened to find the moist towel.
Why do Rolly Pollies roll up?
Pill bugs roll into a ball for defense or to avoid drying out. Video by Josh Cassidy/KQED With winter rains, Bay Area pill bugs are out in force. Fortunately, they’re one of our most beloved “bugs.” Pill bugs. Doodle bugs. Potato bugs. Wood Shrimp. Whatever you call them, there’s something less creepy about these critters than other insects. The act of rolling up into a ball is called conglobation. Image by Josh Cassidy/KQED “Kids love them,” said Jonathan Wright, a professor of biology at Pomona College who studies the charismatic creepy-crawlies. After all, who hasn’t delighted as a youth in annoying a pill bug until it defensively curls up into a little armored ball? Some adventurous foragers even eat pill bugs. 
Pill bugs are commonly found under leaves and fallen logs where they consume rotting wood and fungus recycling, the nutrients back into the soil. Photo by Josh Cassidy/KQED A Different Way to Breathe “Like their ocean ancestors, pill bugs have gills,” said Wright.
What happens when you get bit by a potato bug?
Let’s just get one thing out of the way here: While not poisonous, a bite from a potato bug can certainly rattle you! Potato bugs have strong jaws that can sink into the skin and cause a moderate amount of pain if they bite you. Luckily, it isn’t common to get bitten by potato bugs and they don’t inject venom.
While pesky, these bugs are naturally shy and will scurry away from humans. The only time they might bite is when they’re cornered or provoked, whether intentionally or not. If you’ve come across this unusual bug, don’t be alarmed and definitely don’t try to smush it. There’s so much misinformation online surrounding the potato bug, and that’s because it’s often mistaken for the Colorado potato beetle, an entirely different insect altogether.
So, want the real lowdown on this strange-looking bug that’s more accurately known as a Jerusalem cricket? Keep reading to learn where they come from, how to manage them in your home and garden, and what to do if you’ve been bitten by a potato bug.
What kills roly poly bugs?
Diatomaceous Earth – 
Diatomaceous earth is a safe way to desiccate or dry out pill bugs, therefore killing them. Spread Diatomaceous along the edges of your planting beds where pill bugs like to live. Unfortunately, it also kills ants and various other insects, meaning it could be harmful to ladybugs and other beneficial bugs but safe for worms.
Do Rolly Pollies have brains?
Fun Facts About Pill Bugs – One of the best ways to keep your home or business safe is to understand the different species living on or in your property. This helps inform whether the pests are harmless, or what type of removal method is best if they aren’t. Here are some informative and interesting facts to better get to know pill bugs:
Pill bugs are not native to the United States. They were originally introduced from Europe through the lumber trade. Pill bugs have seven pairs of legs and two set of antennae. Pill bugs get their nicknames from their ability to roll their body into a ball. This is mostly a defense mechanism, and can be triggered if they feel threatened. It is also the largest difference between the pill bug and a sow bug, for which it is commonly mistaken. While creepy looking, pill bugs do not bite, sting or carry/ transmit diseases. Pill bugs are not actually bugs! They are crustaceans who have adapted to living entirely on land, and they’re the only species of their kind to have done this. White decaying matter is the pill bug’s primary food source, They will also eat living plants, particularly strawberries, decaying animal matter, and other dead bugs. Pill bugs can live up to 2 years in the right conditions. Pill bugs breathe through gills. This is due to their marine origins, and also why they require moist environments to survive. Pill bugs don’t have a typical brain. Rather than a single complex brain, the neural ganglia in each of the 7 thorax sections exerts independent control over the different body parts. Pill bugs are nocturnal.
What kills Rolly Pollies in house?
3. Diatomaceous Earth – Another home remedy to get rid of rollie pollies naturally is diatomaceous earth (DE). Sprinkle it in the vegetable garden and areas in the house where pill bugs congregate. The sharp edges of the substance will also cut into the critters, dehydrate and kill them.
Are potato bugs Jerusalem crickets?
Jerusalem crickets (also commonly called “potato bugs”) is a North American insect that looks a lot like a large bulbous cricket. Jerusalem crickets can be identified by their 6 legs, large jaws on a smooth face, and a round body with black and tan/orange striped coloration on its abdomen.