[Pacific Northwest Crustaceans]
Pillbugs
Armadillidium vulgare
Pillbugs are land crustaceans which look very similar to sowbugs,
at least at first glance. However, the pillbug has a rounder back, from side to
side, and a deeper body, from back to legs. When disturbed, it frequently rolls
into a tight ball, with its legs tucked inside, much like its larger but dissimilar
counterpart the armadillo. Pillbugs have gills which need constant moisture, so
they tend to live in moister northwest climates. They are primarily nocturnal,
and eat decaying leaf litter and vegetable matter. They may also feed on the tips
of young plants, so can be considered pests, but they also help the environment
by breaking up decaying plant matter and help speed up the recycling of the nutrients
they contain.
Paul Slichter