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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Crustaceans (Crustacea) » Malacostracans (Malacostraca) » Marsupial Crustaceans (Peracarida) » Isopods (Isopoda) » Scutocoxifera » Woodlice (Oniscidea) » Holoverticata » Orthogonopoda » Crinocheta » European Pillbugs (Armadillidiidae) » Armadillidium » Common Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare)
Photo#97570
Pillbug? Roly Poly? That's not what we kids called them. - Armadillidium vulgare
Copyright © 2007 Ron Hemberger

Pillbug? Roly Poly? That's not what we kids called them. - Armadillidium vulgare
Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California, USA
March 7, 2007
When I saw this one on the trail, it was on its back. In the process of getting back on its feet, the little critter presented a nice side view of its "armor".

Images of this individual: tag all
Pillbug? Roly Poly? That's not what we kids called them. - Armadillidium vulgare Pillbug? Roly Poly? That's not what we kids called them. - Armadillidium vulgare
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Contributed by Ron Hemberger on 7 March, 2007 - 10:40pm
Last updated 8 March, 2007 - 5:22pm

There are 2 kinds of "pill bu
There are 2 kinds of "pill bugs". One is wood lice, which are a little flatter, and cannot roll into a perfect ball. The other are "pill bugs" which can roll into a perfect ball. These are both isopods.

But they come in all colors. The babies are almost white, while they darken up as they age. Adults can be dark gray or black.
… bulrush, 8 March, 2007 - 1:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the info.
I did see some small white ones, which I'll probably photograph next time. (Little guys were under a damp hunk of wood; this one was on the trail.)
… Ron Hemberger, 8 March, 2007 - 3:06pm login or register to post comments

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