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The Pillbug is not an insect and
in fact it is not a bug at all!
It is a crustacean and related
to crayfish and shrimp.
My
Home: I am found in most regions
of the world. I live in moist dark areas, under rocks, bark, leaves and
logs.
What I
eat: I eat decaying plants or
other vegetation.
What I
look like: I have three body
parts, seven pairs of legs, two antennae and two eyes. I am 1/4 to 1/2
of an inch in length and vary in color from dark gray to white. I can
roll myself into a ball when frightened and am commonly called ‘Roly
Poly.’
How I am
born: I go through two stages of
development: egg and adult. The female can lay up to 100 eggs, which
are held in a pouch (like a kangaroo). After about two months as an egg,
I hatch and emerge as a tiny adult. I grow by molting (shedding my
skin). As an adult, I can live up to three years.
Fun
Facts: The
Pill bugs breathe with gills and need humidity or moisture to survive.
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