sow bug
Armored garden crustacean
A sow bug is a small land crustacean with a segmented, oval body and multiple legs, found in damp places under rocks, logs, and leaf litter.
Unlike the closely related pill bug, a sow bug cannot roll into a ball when disturbed.
Also called a woodlouse.
Plump and round
- pillbugLand crustacean, rolls defensively
- doodlebugPit-digging insect larva
- wood louseTerrestrial isopod crustacean
- slaterRoof tile craftsman
carpenter · childhood · harmless · playful · curiosity · nature play
Seven-legged-pair crustacean
- crustaceanAquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- segmentedDivided into sections
exoskeleton · antennae · compound eyes · gills · molting
Eats dead organic material
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
decomposition · biodegradation · soil health · microhabitat · compost · mulch · forest floor · rotting wood
Decomposing ground debris
- basementSubterranean building level
- cellarUnderground storage room
- gardenCultivated plant area
- mulchProtective plant bedding
compost pile · rotting wood · flower pots · moist soil · woodpile · bark · crawl space · greenhouse
Turning over repeatedly
- curlingForming curved shapes
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- hidingStaying out of sight
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
aggregating · detritivore · scavenging · slow-moving · photophobic · defense mechanism
External skeletal structure
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- compound eyesMulti-lensed visual organs
- cephalothoraxFused cranial-trunk section
oval shape · plates · molting · jointed legs · sensory organs · mouthparts · thorax · abdomen
Producing good results
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- organic gardeningFarming without artificial additives
- compost binVessel for organic decay
- raised bedsElevated soil enclosures for planting
roly-poly
Plump and round
- pillbugLand crustacean, rolls defensively
- doodlebugPit-digging insect larva
- wood louseTerrestrial isopod crustacean
slater · carpenter · childhood · harmless · playful · curiosity · nature play
isopod
Seven-legged-pair crustacean
- crustaceanAquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
segmented · exoskeleton · antennae · compound eyes · gills · molting
detritivore
Eats dead organic material
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
humus · decomposition · biodegradation · soil health · microhabitat · compost · mulch · forest floor · rotting wood · fallen leaves
leaf litter
Decomposing ground debris
mulch · compost pile · rotting wood · flower pots · moist soil · woodpile · bark · crawl space · greenhouse · dampness
rolling
Turning over repeatedly
burrowing · aggregating · detritivore · scavenging · slow-moving · photophobic · defense mechanism
exoskeleton
External skeletal structure
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- compound eyesMulti-lensed visual organs
cephalothorax · oval shape · plates · molting · jointed legs · sensory organs · mouthparts · thorax · abdomen
beneficial
Producing good results
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- organic gardeningFarming without artificial additives
- compost binVessel for organic decay