Meet the pill bug

2025-05-08 12:02:18 32

What does a pill bug look like? It looks like the picture below.

The pill bug (Armadillidium vulgare) is often thought of as a bug, but it is not an insect. It is actually a terrestrial crustacean, classified as Arthropoda, Crustacea, Isopoda, and Carcharodontidae. Why is it called "isopod"? This is because the pill bug has 14 legs, all of which are the same shape and size.

In terms of appearance:

Pill bugs have an oblong body with a pair of antennae on their heads and a pair of legs on each of the first seven segments behind their heads, for a total of seven pairs of legs. They have a hard carapace on their backs, and when threatened they roll into a ball to protect their soft abdomens.

Pill bugs are called woodlice in traditional Chinese medicine and have certain medicinal value. They are used to treat some diseases, such as common warts or flat warts.

Distribution and Habitat:

They are widely distributed around the world, including Europe, Asia, and America, and especially like humid environments, such as gardens, courtyards, and flower pots. Pill bugs live in the soil or on the soil surface, and prefer habitats that have a large supply of decomposing organic matter, moderate to high humidity, reduced light, and moderate temperatures.

Dietary Characteristics:

Pill bugs are mostly detritivores, feeding on organic matter. They feed on dead plants and animals, and in some cases, they will eat living plants.

1. Pill bugs mostly feed on decomposed organic matter and decaying matter of plants and animals, and play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in the environment, showing scavenger behavior.

2. It also feeds on carrots and some fruits (such as strawberries).

3. Some species have a tendency to be carnivorous, mainly manifested as cannibalism.

4. It gets 10% of its nutrition from eating its own feces.

Cannibalism of pill bugs:

When food resources are scarce, pill bugs will engage in cannibalism.

Typically, young and weak individuals are targeted by adult pill bugs. These newborns and weak are captured by the stronger and more powerful adult pill bugs and then eaten.

In addition to engaging in cannibalism during times of scarcity, pill bugs may also feed on their young during the mating season.

Pill bugs mostly show nocturnal tendencies, searching for food and eating at night.

Pill bugs are inactive during the day and are therefore likely to be found hiding in dark, moist areas, which are usually under logs, rocks, or leaf litter.

Many animals eat pill bugs:

Pill bugs are an important source of nutrition for creatures such as shrews, centipedes, owls, foxes, toads, frogs, some ants, and spiders.

Are pill bugs poisonous?

Pill bugs are not poisonous as they do not sting, bite or carry any harmful diseases.

animal tags： pill-bugs