Insect Order (Isopoda)
ISOPODA
Order Isopoda is related to Crustaceans and includes both land and waterborne species. The order falls under the Domain of Eukaryota of the Kingdom Anamalia with the Phylum of Arthropoda. The Class is Malacostraca and the Superorder is Peracarida. The order was founded in 1817 by French zoologist Pierre Andre Latreille. Segmented exoskeletons are a telltale sign of the order as is a pair of antenna and seven pairs of limbs along the thorax section.
Taxonomy
Other Names: "Roly-Poly; Sowbug; Wood Louse"
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Armadillidium vulgaris.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Family: Armadillidiidae
Genus: Armadillidium
Species: vulgaris
Characteristics
Antenna: Antenna are noticeably apparent on this insect.
Daytime: Typically seen during daylight / daytime hours.
Outdoors: Typically found across the great outdoors.
Small / Tiny: Noticeably small to the naked eye.
Striped / Banded: Noticeable stripes or banding pattern.
Description
The Common Pillbug is also known by these other names:
Roly-Poly :: Sowbug :: Wood Louse
The Common Pillbug has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:
small armored plated striped stripes outdoors garden woods daytime summer antenna grey gray brown maroon purple tan beige
Sighting Guide
The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.
Size
Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Common Pillbug. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.
Lowest-Low:
0.16 inches
(4 mm)
Highest-High:
0.71 inches
(18 mm)
Identifying Colors
Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Common Pillbug. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.
Tennessee County Reach
The Common Pillbug can be found in the following Tennessee counties:
Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson
Common Pillbug Picture (1)
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Image of an adult Roly-Poly ground insect in extreme detail.; Credit: Noah B., USA.
This image is original to
www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.
