CRUSTACEANS: Pillbugs (Roly Polys) and Sowbugs (pronounced sew bugs) are crustaceans.

Phsyical Description: Pillbugs have 7 body segments with a pair of legs per segment or 14 legs. They need to live in moist soil because they breathe through gills not lungs. Pillbugs will roll up into a ball when they need to defend themselves. Sowbugs just run away - they are fast runners!

Habitat: moist soil and leaf litter.

Niche: Pillbugs and sowbugs are decomposers, feeding on leaf litter and dead animals.

Sowbug by Emily

 

 

Click here to return to Invertebrates page.