pillbugs
Curl into balls
Pillbugs are small crustaceans that live on land, found in damp places under rocks, logs, and leaf litter.
They have segmented, armored bodies and can roll into a tight ball when disturbed—hence the name.
Also called roly-polies, woodlice, or sowbugs, though sowbugs technically cannot roll up.
Despite their bug designation, they're more closely related to shrimp and crabs than to insects.
Seven-legged-pair crustacean
- crustaceanAquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- terrestrialRelating to land
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
species · family · order · classification
Plump and round
- playfulInclined toward fun
- discoveryAct of finding something
- backyardOutdoor space behind home
- gardenCultivated plant area
fascination · pet · exploration · curiosity · nickname · cute · harmless · handling
External skeletal structure
- segmentedDivided into sections
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- chitinArthropod shell polymer
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
carapace · armor · plating · banded · articulated · gills · mandible · multilegged
Ground matter for planting
- gardenCultivated plant area
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- decaying woodTimber in decomposition
mulch · damp · moisture · rotting logs · rocks · flowerpots · basement · humid
Eats dead organic material
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
humus · microorganisms · fungi · bacteria · decay · breakdown · soil health · beneficial
isopod
Seven-legged-pair crustacean
- crustaceanAquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- terrestrialRelating to land
invertebrate · species · family · order · classification
roly-poly
Plump and round
garden · fascination · pet · exploration · curiosity · nickname · cute · harmless · handling · observation
exoskeleton
External skeletal structure
molting · carapace · armor · plating · banded · articulated · gills · mandible · multilegged · marsupium
soil
Ground matter for planting
- gardenCultivated plant area
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
decaying wood · mulch · damp · moisture · rotting logs · rocks · flowerpots · basement · humid · shelter
detritivore
Eats dead organic material
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
recycling · humus · microorganisms · fungi · bacteria · decay · breakdown · soil health · beneficial · saprophyte
curling
Forming curved shapes
protective · shielding · retractable · encased · hardened · shell · tucked · spherical · startled · disturbed
- arthropodsarthropod, arthropods, Arthropoda, insects, insect
- decomposersfungi, decomposers, decomposer, mushrooms, earthworms
- plant pestsaphids, aphid, caterpillar, mealybugs, mites
- soil pestswireworm, grubs, white grub, wireworms, grub
pillbugsbeetles
Hard-winged insects
ants · flies · grasshoppers · butterflies · cockroaches