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Old 06-24-2008, 04:16 AM
 
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We have these little caterpillars all over our screened porch. Someone told me they are called "roly polys" because of the way they curl into a ball when touched. What kind of caterpillar are they? What do they "morph" into, if anything. Do they harm fabric? plants? They are really just a nuisance but because I don't kill anything, I just scoop them up and put them outside. Thanks for any info.
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Old 06-24-2008, 04:30 AM
 
Location: Wake Forest
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They are Pillbugs, I know in this area we grew up calling them rollie pollies (or however you want to spell it) simply because they roll into a ball when you touch them.

They don't do much, and you can find a lot more information online by looking up pillbugs. Here is a link to a kids site, that well, I already had bookmarked!

Learn about Pillbugs | PestWorld for Kids

Leigh
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Old 06-24-2008, 05:48 AM
 
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Thanks leighbhe!!
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Old 06-24-2008, 05:54 AM
 
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Yes, they are not caterpillars, just a lil' insect.
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Old 06-24-2008, 06:23 AM
 
Location: Oxxford Hunt, Cary NC
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Actually, they are apparently crustaceans not insects! They breathe through gill like structures, which is why they are found in damp places. I learn something new every day - thanks to Google!

I have tons of pillbugs around my house - I always wondered what exactly they were!
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Old 06-24-2008, 06:26 AM
 
Location: Cary, NC
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They're harmless little bugs. If you have a compost pile, they do do great in there will help the decomposition process. I pick them up and throw them in the pile whenever I find them.
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Old 06-24-2008, 06:43 AM
 
Location: Wake Forest
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Up north we called them Potato bugs....not sure why as they look nothing like a potato, baked or French fried in their long state of rolled up state....wait-reverse that last statement, please! But I did go full circle and read the website about these gill breathing bugs of nature. Glad to know they are harmless and are actually at times, well 'rounded' !!! Thanks to the poster that started us on the journey of the Rollie Pollie's, and after reading this I can astutely say, take 2 'pillbugs' and see me in the mornining....
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Old 06-24-2008, 10:50 AM
 
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I read the link Leighbhe provided. What I have crawling on my porch are not Pillbugs. I've seen the pillbugs around but currently we have a bunch of actual caterpillars. They also coil up immediately if touched - it was my neighbor who called them roly polys but she's from NY...not here.
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Old 06-24-2008, 11:02 AM
 
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Could you tell us more about them? How long are they? What color are they? Any markings?
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Old 06-24-2008, 11:02 AM
 
Location: Oxxford Hunt, Cary NC
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What color are they?
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