Names
These amazing creatures are known throughout the world by many different names: Pill Bug, Potato Bug, Woodlouse / Woodlice, Doodle Bug, Wood Shrimp, and Armadillo Bug. Their official scientific name though is Armadillidium Vulgare.
Species
So far around 4,000 different species of Rollie Pollies have been cataloged worldwide. This means that they have many more names than we listed above. Though many labels for Rollie Pollies refer to them as bugs, they are scientifically classified as isopods instead of insects. Isopods are a type of crustaceans like Lobsters, Crabs, Crayfish, Krill, Shrimp, and others. Notice that most crustaceans live in water, Rollie Pollies have gills but live on land. This makes them unique among other crustaceans. In fact, they are known in some circles as the terrestrial crustacean.
Role in the Ecosystem
Rollie Pollies play an important role in the nitrogen cycle. They consume decomposing leaves and other organic plant matter which helps to break down various forms of bio-mass into a form that plants can use as nutrients for CO2reduction. In addition to helping to process organic matter, Rollie Pollies can also help clean up toxic inorganic matter too! Thanks to their unique digestive system Rollie Pollies can consume harmful metals in the soil like arsenic, cadmium, and lead. These metals crystalize in their guts and are kept from leeching into the groundwater.
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for a list of cool Rollie Pollie facts to unload on the next unsuspecting stranger or fellow science nerd you meet.
1. Rollie Pollies have blue blood.
2. Rollie Pollies don't urinate.
3. Rollie Pollies are crustaceans, not bugs.
4. Rollie Pollies use gills to breathe.
5. When they are sick Rollie Pollies turn very blue.
6. Rollie Pollies eat toxic metals.
7. Rollie Pollies are one of only truly land-only crustacean.
8. Adult Rollie Pollies have 14 legs, and babies only have 12.
9. When they roll into a ball the action is called conglobation
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