Page 90 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 90
pods
(Isopoda)
Description
Most isopods are small,
around 1.2 centimeters
long, and have seven
pairs of short legs and
two pairs of antennae.
They have seven armored
plates called pereonites
for protection. Because isopods are able to roll themselves up for protection,
they are sometimes called “roly polys.”
Distribution and Habitat
The females carry the eggs in a Most isopods are terrestrial or
special pouch called a marsupium. marine. Like all crustaceans,
When the eggs hatch, the babies terrestrial isopods breathe with gills
stay in the marsupium until they are which must stay moist to function.
old enough to be on their own. They live under rocks, logs or
leaves, in caves and crevices, and in
basements and other damp places.
The two most common terrestrial
isopods found in Virginia are non
natives: the pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) and the sowbug (Porcellio scaber),
both originally from Europe. Only five percent of North American species live
in freshwater. They are restricted to springs, streams and underground waters
and are usually found under stones or in detritus. Although the majority of
Isopods you will come across are non-native, there are a few aquatic species
in the family Asellidae that are native to Virginia. Isopods are found in all five
physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Isopods eat fungi and decaying plant matter, young plants and sometimes
dead animal matter. Predators include ants, spiders, shrews, toads, frogs,
lizards, owls, newts, harvestmen, beetles, foxes and other isopods.
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(Isopoda)
Description
Most isopods are small,
around 1.2 centimeters
long, and have seven
pairs of short legs and
two pairs of antennae.
They have seven armored
plates called pereonites
for protection. Because isopods are able to roll themselves up for protection,
they are sometimes called “roly polys.”
Distribution and Habitat
The females carry the eggs in a Most isopods are terrestrial or
special pouch called a marsupium. marine. Like all crustaceans,
When the eggs hatch, the babies terrestrial isopods breathe with gills
stay in the marsupium until they are which must stay moist to function.
old enough to be on their own. They live under rocks, logs or
leaves, in caves and crevices, and in
basements and other damp places.
The two most common terrestrial
isopods found in Virginia are non
natives: the pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) and the sowbug (Porcellio scaber),
both originally from Europe. Only five percent of North American species live
in freshwater. They are restricted to springs, streams and underground waters
and are usually found under stones or in detritus. Although the majority of
Isopods you will come across are non-native, there are a few aquatic species
in the family Asellidae that are native to Virginia. Isopods are found in all five
physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Isopods eat fungi and decaying plant matter, young plants and sometimes
dead animal matter. Predators include ants, spiders, shrews, toads, frogs,
lizards, owls, newts, harvestmen, beetles, foxes and other isopods.
r 86 r
