Do all your pill bugs look alike? We found some of ours were entirely dark gray whereas others had gold or yellow spots on their backs.Īny ideas why pill bugs might be different colors?ģ. Pay particular attention to what they look like, because the more details you add, the more realistic the model will be.Ģ. Gather materials such a paper, cardboard, chenilles and/or clay and create a pill bug model. Study how they move and their body parts.Ĭheck the “Using Live Insects in the Classroom” Isopod Information Sheet for a detailed description of their morphology. After they unroll, you can look at them through a magnifying lens. When you find some pill bugs, gently transfer them to the container. Note: always return the rocks or logs to their original position when through, and be careful if you live where there are poisonous critters that live under rocks. Look outside under stones or logs for pill bugs. First, prepare a temporary holding container with a walnut-sized wad of moist paper towel and a few bits of carrot for food. They are common and active residents of our back yard, although they do seem to prefer the irrigated areas. Today we’re going to be using pill bugs, the ones that look like a pill when they roll up.Īlthough most people associate pill bugs with moist environments, surprisingly we have pill bugs in the desert that can tolerate a much drier climate.

Pill Bugs Up Close by Greg Pyers