Oval and about 1/2 inch long, these seven-legged crustaceans are easy to tell apart; sowbugs have two tail like appendages, and pillbugs curl into a tight ball if disturbed. Although adapted to life on dry land, the creatures thrive in damp conditions. To keep from drying out, they hide in dark, moist places during the day and feed at night. They’re often wrongly blamed for plant damage, since they frequently spend the daylight hours in holes chewed by snails and other pests. Both sowbugs and pillbugs are largely beneficial: they feed primarily on decaying matter. It’s true that they sometimes go after vegetation, but in general, they cause problems only when their numbers are high.
Sowbugs and Pillbugs
