
Community identification
Pill Bug (also known as Roly-Poly)
Armadillidium vulgare
- Order & Family
- Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae
- Size
- Typically 8 to 18 mm (0.3 to 0.7 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Damp environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and in soil; they require moisture to breathe through gill-like structures.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivores that primarily eat decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and fungi; occasionally consume tender living plants.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and known for their ability to roll into a tight ball (conglobation) when threatened or to prevent moisture loss. They are terrestrial crustaceans rather than true insects.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans and beneficial to ecosystems as decomposers that recycle nutrients into the soil. They can occasionally become minor garden pests if they feed on young seedlings.