This spring there has been a tremendous amount of pillbug activity. Obviously, weather conditions have been very favorable for a population buildup and the tiny bugs are being found everywhere.

Pillbugs are actually non-insect arthropods. In fact, they are crustaceans, and are more closely related to lobsters, shrimp and crayfish than to beetles or any other insect.

There are several species of pillbugs and sowbugs.

The most familiar are those that are capable of rolling into a tight ball when disturbed, a behavior that has resulted in the common name of “roly-polie”.

Roly-polies have quite an interesting life cycle. Females lay eggs that they carry in a pouch underneath their body.

Eggs hatch into young pillbugs that resemble small adults.

Young pillbugs remain in their mother’s pouch up to 2 months after hatching.

Following the hatching process, it takes about 1 year for the pillbug to develop into an adult capable of breeding.

Fully grown, the different species range in size from about 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch in length.

They are an elongated - oval shaped and are gray in color. Since they are closely related to lobster and crayfish, their bodies are distinctively segmented.

Depending on conditions, a female may produce up to 3 broods each year. Surprisingly, for such a small bug, they have a fairly long life span of about 3 years.

Pillbugs are mainly nuisance pest. On occasion they will feed on and damage roots, seedlings, foliage, or fruit that comes in contact with the soil.

However, for the most part they feed on decomposing organic material, including mulch and grass clippings. They are nocturnal and venture out at night.

The bright daylight hours are spent in dark damp areas. They can be easily found underneath stones, logs, leaf litter and other debris.

Since they are seldom damaging, control practices are not usually recommended.

However, when populations build and bedding plants, landscape ornamentals, or garden plants are being damaged, contact insecticides labeled for pillbug and sowbug control will provide relief.