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Pillbugs, commonly known as Woodlice or Sowbugs, are familiar backyard creepy crawlies to most of us. Pillbugs are correctly classified as terrestrial Isopods, and belong to the class Crustacea. Familiar crustaceans include lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and daphnia (water fleas). The crustaceans, in turn, are part of a larger group, Arthropoda, or jointed-legged animals. All arthropods have a tough outer cuticle, a trunk divided into segments, and limbs which, because of their stiff cuticle, articulate about flexible joints.
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Pillbugs are easily recognized by their flattened or round-backed profile, seven pairs of legs, and sharply-angled antennae. Some species are able to roll into a ball when disturbed, hence the name, pillbugs. The broad head has four pairs of mouthparts and is followed by the seven main trunk segments, which bear the walking limbs. Behind these are six smaller segments comprising the pleon. The pleon segments also carry limbs, but these are greatly modified. The first five pairs are the pleopods. These are flattened and form a set of overlapping gills visible on the underside of the animal. They have many functions, including reproduction, gas exchange, and excretion. In some species the cuticle of the pleopods is in-folded, creating whitish, branching tubules that constitute pleopodal lungs. The final pair of appendages, the uropods, project from the rear of the animal and are sensory and defensive in function.
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Though generally not a destructive pest, Pillbugs will readily move under slabs, into doorways and window frames which are accumulating moisture. Moisture may form due to leaks or condensation and with this moisture comes mold, mildew and algae - the basic food choice of these pests. Established colonies of Pillbugs will move inside when moisture levels are too high or to seek relief from both cold or heat. It is when they migrate into living areas that people first notice just how bad of a problem they have.
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