Similar to miniature armored tanks
from the prehistoric past,
you scurry along like ancient,
deep sea Silurian Period trilobites
(with shielding exteriors)
to be envied by soft, fragile, vulnerable we.
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Much like M.C.Escher’s famous Curl-up Prints — these crustaceans probably inspired him — Rollie Pollies (or Pill Bugs) are capable of rolling up into protective balls, just like trilobites did many millions of years ago in the deep oceans. This particular species looks to be more like a Sow Bug so is likely not able to fully roll up like an almost similar looking Pill Bug can. Most Rollie Pollies live up to two years. They are the only crustaceans that can spend their entire life on land. They mostly eat dead vegetation. They breathe by means of gills, which necessitates needing to be in a humid air environment (such as under logs).
Sow Bug from the Past… Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2018
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
I understand that the pill bugs have few predators (if any), because they are nasty tasting! Makes me wonder why they need the armor. It won’t protect them from me if I find them in my vegetable garden.
They are harmless to vegetables. They mostly eat rotting wood and decaying vegetable matter. 🙂
Not in my garden. They eat radishes and strawberries. They also seem to have some weird impact on dill. I’ve seen some people insist they only eat dead stuff, but it isn’t true.
They may be different in different areas. I used to plant radishes and strawberries and never had problems with them. 🙂
Weird impact on dill?
And I thought I only had to worry about crustaceans in restaurants! Now I have to carry my epipen in the woods?
They are totally harmless. 🙂 Read thewoodlandgardener’s comment. 🙂
Super interesting.
They venture out more in our yard on the river bank, as it is a bit more humid (which is to their liking). 🙂
Wow
I love these little creatures. They were the only “bug” I was okay picking up and touching as a little kid, because they were so cute and harmless.
Yes, they are totally harmless. Some kids even keep them as pets in terrariums. 🙂
I used to keep them as pets when I was kid. Fed them carrot peelings and dog food. I noticed that some came in colors besides the standard gray.
Excellent photo and interesting background!
Thanks, Belinda! Keep snappin’! 🙂
We get 2 types here in UK in our garden. Those that roll up and those that do not. We have more that do not roll up. I recall finding out with babies attached on the underside. I have no idea if the hatchlings come from eggs and hatch then hang onto mum or if they develop there.
found this on line —Female lays 24 eggs in the special pouch (designed for carrying the eggs) on the bottom side of the body. Eggs hatch after several days, but babies stay in the pouch until they become large enough to survive on their own.
So somewhat similar to the Neocaridina Shrimp that i keep as aquarium pets. They are both crustaceans. 🙂
as a child, we just called them all “wood” lice. I still feel bad if I accidentally squash one moving a pot or some old wood in the garden so always do such tasks with care.
Good for you, Andy!… very considerate! 🙂
When Man has outlived his usefulness on this earth,the bugs will still be here and going strong…
Yes, especially pillbugs like these!
The ones that don’t roll up are known as Wood Lice in the U.K. If I recall correctly they moult out of the shell as they grow but I’ve never seen a discarded shell.
I’ve seen the shells. They are full of a lot of calcium and other nutrients and are usually quickly eaten. 🙂
That’s probably why I’ve never seen one.
Interesting they can live almost two years!
Great shot!
Yes! They are great scavengers and are very useful (as are earthworms). 🙂
It’s funny how flora and fauna have different common names in different parts of the world. We always called them “potato” bugs. I had no idea they lived that long!
Ha! Never heard of them as “potato bugs”! 🙂 My pet Neocaridina Shrimp are also crustaceans and live around the same amount of time. 🙂
The pill bugs are common in our hill country, and I remember learning about trilobites in school, but I don’t think I’ve encountered these. Perhaps I just haven’t noticed them. It’s entirely possible that conditions here are just too dry for them. A bit to the east, in the piney woods, I’ll bet they’re abundant. Thanks for the introduction!
Yes, Linda, they sure do need some moisture in the air; that’s why they are common deep in the woods here and along the riverbank that we live on. They are very innocent, non-threatening crustaceans. 🙂
Interesting info Tom … I like these bugs because they don’t have long legs that skitter across the floor and run faster than I do.
Ah, now Daddy Longlegs are sweet little things too! A bunch of them were running around our backyard today, all in a super-big hurry! They like to walk a lot and so do you so… 🙂
Now Daddy Longlegs I can handle because they have the teeny little bodies and very skinny legs. They don’t pose a threat to me like those big garden spiders or centipedes. Now is the time that all the big webs are spun across sidewalks or from tree to tree and you walk into them … me, the walker does not like that. I start batting the air like a cat, clawing the icky-sticky stuff from my face. I always imagine a huge spider has plopped down on my head and if it traveled to my face or landed on my arm, I’d likely have a heart attack on the spot!
Hi Tom, here in the part of Ireland where I live these are call Slaters. Very common since they like damp places and Ireland’s a damp place.☔
Interesting! 🙂 So many different labels for these in different parts of the world. They sure do get around! 🙂
We’ve always called the flattish ones like the one in your photo “sow bugs”.
Thanks for the education! Now I can look at them in a bit of a different light during the next invasion of our home. LOL They cycle through as the vermin of the year every 3-4 years. 🙂