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INTRODUCTION. Pillbugs are sometimes called roly-polies and get this common name because they roll up into a tight ball when distrubed.  These land-dwelling crustaceans are arthropods but not insects.  They are worldwide in distribution.  In the Unites States, the most common species is Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille) which is in the family Armadillidiidae; it has worldwide distribution.

RECOGNITION. Adults about 1/4-5/8in (7-15 mm) long, convex above but flat or hollow beneath.  Color slate gray.  Typical of crustaceans, pillbugs with 7 pairs of similar legs (1^st 2 instars with only 6 pairs); 2 pairs of antennae, 1 tiny, the other readily visible; body dorsoventrally flattened (top to bottom).  Capable of rolling up into a tight ball.  Uropoda (paired terminal appendages attached on posterior or rear end) short and rounded, usually not visible from above.

HABITS. Pillbugs are inactive and remain hidden under objects during the day to reduce water loss.  During the day, they can be found around buildings in such places as under trash, boards, rocks, flower pots, piles of grass clippings, flower-bed mulches, and other decaying vegetation.

     They occasionally enter buildings via door thresholds, especially homes with sliding-glass doors on the ground level.  Indoor invasion typically means that there is a large population immediately outside the building.  They usually do not survive indoors for more than a couple of days unless there are high moisture conditions and a food supply present.

     Pillbugs are scavengers and feed on decaying organic matter, usually plant material but occasionally animal.  They cause no damage and are considered a nuisance pest indoors.  Outdoors, they occasionally injure young plants.

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