Fun With Roly Poly Bugs

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Ranked #461 in Animals, #13,217 overall

Pill Bugs and Sow Bugs

Did you know that Pill Bugs aren't really bugs at all? They aren't even insects! They are members of the only group of CRUSTACEANS who live on land. Pill Bugs perform valuable jobs in our environment by eating detritus and aerating the top layer of soil. They don't bite and they are fun to watch and play with. Come learn about these weird and wonderful little creatures.

My Favorite Bug 

Summer afternoons and bug circuses.

I remember spending hours in my Grandparent's yard turning over rocks looking for little Roly Poly pets. I loved to have a little zoo of them to fuss over and feed and pretend that they were in training for the World Roly Poly Olympics. Today, I still smile when I stumble across one in my garden. I show them to my kids and I like to think that they pretend that their little friends are in training for something important too!

Pillbugs 

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Go Dig In The Dirt!



The pill bug is a small, segmented isopod that can curl up in to a ball for protection. These are types of arthropods, or crustaceans, not insects or true bugs.

Pill bugs are commonly found in many areas around the world. They prefer moist soil or rotting vegetation, living in the soil and under decaying leaves, rocks, and dead logs.

A pill bug is born from an egg, looking almost like a tiny adult. As it grows, it molts (sheds its old, outgrown exoskeleton) 4 to 5 times.

Pill Bugs are protected by a hard exoskeleton with three basic divisions, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. They have 7 pairs of legs.

Pill bugs are omnivorous, eating plants and decayed animals.

A Roly Poly by Any Other Name

Pill Bugs are also known as Wood Lice, Potato Bugs, or Doodlebugs.

 

THE PILLBUG
From Enchanted Learning


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New Friends 

Kids playing with Pill bugs

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Up Close 

Looking closer you can see the crustacean traits.



Buy at Art.com

Pill Bug or Pillbug Feeds on Forest L...

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Starring Tuck and Roll - "YOU FIRED!" 

The Pillbugs Stole The Show!

A Bug's Life (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 12/18/2009)Buy Now

Wear A Pill Bug Wherever You Go 

If That's Your Thing.......

Sow Bug Size: 14

Amazon Price: $1.35 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Links For You To Explore! 

Great Stuff For School Reports



Buy at Art.com

Pillbug Feeding on Detritus

Buy From Art.com

Pill Bug Fact Sheet
An informative page from University of Arizona Insect Science Education.
Pill Bug Printouts
The Enchanted Learning module on Pill Bugs.

Who Doesn't Love a Pillbug? 

Share Your Fond Childhood Memories of Roly Polies! 

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Mother of four awesome kiddos, Classical Homeopath and Holistic Health Consultant, divine prairie chick, birdwatching enthusiast, and Etsy addict. Usu... (more)

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