[ID: color illustration of a pillbug and a millipede sharing a brown leaf on the forest floor beside a log. The pill bug is blushing and there are little black hearts between the couple. Background is green grass. End ID]
Whether you call them an isopod, woodlouse, pill bug, potato bug, roly poly, or slater, these ubiquitous little arthropods are peaceful and underappreciated little creatures. As detritivores (eating decomposing plant matter), they are an essential part of the ecosystem. They make excellent pets and are easy to care for in captivity, provided their needs are met. They are highly gregarious and social, and the females have a strong maternal instinct and will actively protect their young. Their common name "pill-bug" refers to the fact that they can curl themselves up into a tight ball when threatened. Not all isopods have this ability.
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