Weird brown bugs in moist spot

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Dinu Mysore, India(Zone 10a) Nov 11, 2021

When I lifted some twiggy cuttings that har got wet in the rain I found several of these. Many soon crawled away and hid again. There were a few that had curled up into a ball. What are these?

Thumbnail by Dinu Thumbnail by Dinu
Post #10527529
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 11, 2021

These are terrestrial crustaceans in the order Isopoda; they occur world-wide and can go by a wide variety of common names, including woodlice, pillbugs, sowbugs, roly polys, and rock slaters. They breathe through gills that must be kept moist, which is why they usually are found in dark, damp habitats. There also are both fresh-water and salt water isopods; some marine species are parasitic on fishes (see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3590383/), and some bottom dwellers can reach massive sizes - 30 centimeters or more! (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/giant-isopods-curious-crustaceans-on-the-ocean-floor.html)
A 2012 report (http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jes/article/view/2837) stated that 311 species of isopods were known from India; I suspect that number has increased.

Post #10527586
Quote
Dinu Mysore, India(Zone 10a) Nov 13, 2021

Very interesting bug,, Ed.

Post #10527650
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP