Bug Identifier
Common Pill Bug
Community identification

Common Pill Bug

Armadillidium vulgare

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae
Size
8.5 to 18 mm (approx. 0.3 to 0.7 inches) in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp environments such as leaf litter, under rocks, logs, and in soil; they are terrestrial crustaceans that require moisture to breathe through gill-like structures.

Diet & Feeding

Decomposer (detritivore) that primarily eats decaying organic matter, such as rotting leaves, wood, and occasionally tender plant parts.

Behavior Patterns

Known for 'conglobation' (rolling into a tight ball when threatened). They are nocturnal and gregarious, often found in groups to conserve moisture. Mothers carry eggs in a fluid-filled pouch called a marsupium.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They provide significant ecological benefits by nutrient cycling and soil aeration, though they can occasionally damage young seedlings in gardens.