Armadillidiidae is a family of woodlice, a terrestrial crustacean group in the order Isopoda. Unlike members of some other woodlice families, members of this family can roll into a ball, an ability they share with the outwardly similar but unrelated pill millipedes and other animals. This ability gives woodlice in this family their common names of pill bugs or roly pollies. Other common names include slaters, potato bugs, curly bugs, and doodle bugs. Most species are native to the Mediterranean Basin, while a few species have wide European distributions. The best-known species, Armadillidium vulgare, was introduced to New England in the early 19th century and has become widespread throughout North America.
Common names
Name
Region
Basketball bug
US
Bed pisser Pissebed/Bedpisser
Netherlands / Belgium
Bench biter
Denmark
Bicho bolita
Argentina
Carpenter
Canada, US (certain regions)
Cellar bug
Germany
Cement bug
Canada
Cheesy bug
UK (parts of)
Chiggy pig
UK (Devon)
Chuckie pig
US (South)
Cochinilla
Mexico
Curly bug
Canada
Dangomushi (dumpling bug)
Japan
Doodlebug, doodle bug
US
Fat Pig
Ireland
Gramersow
UK (Cornwall)
Gray sow
Sweden
Gongbeolle (ball bug), jwimyeoneuri (rat’s daughter-in-law)
Korea
Chanchito (little pig)
South America (certain countries)
Little soil pig/small creature/Saint Anthony's little pig(porcellino di terra/onisco/porcellino di Sant' Antonio)
Italy
Marranito
Colombia
Parsons pig
UK
Pill bug
Global
Possibly "closed door" Cloporte
Francophone regions
Potato bug
UK, Canada, US
Roll-up bug
US
Rollie Pollie, Roly Poly
US, Canada, Australia
Slater bug
Australia
Slater
Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland (Ulster)
Sowbug, sow bug
US, Canada
Tatu bolinha
Brazil
Twiddle bug
US
Uri Kadoori (sphere-like "Uri")
Israel
Woodbug
Canada
Woodlouse
UK, Australia, US
Ecology and behavior
Pill bugs in the family Armadillidiidae are able to form their bodies into a ball shape, in a process known as conglobation....
