WOW! Isopod behbehs & their mom

[MissSkittles]

I’ve wondered how isopods reproduce, but obviously not curious enough to have looked it up yet.
It’s pretty common for me to find a lost isopod just crawling along the floor. I pick them up and put them in the breeding bin. The one tonight was a big one. I picked it up gently with tongs and put it in my hand for the trip to the garage when I noticed all these tiny white bugs crawling all over my hand and the isopod. Ewwww!!! GROSS! I thought they were some sort of miniature maggots. Then I looked closer…they’re behbehs! I guess the momma isopod holds her behbehs on or in her abdomen until they’re ready for the world. I don’t know if they were already hatching or my picking her up with the tongs triggered immediate birth. I just know it’s pretty cool and very hard to get good pics of. Can’t really see the itty bitty little antennae and wispy legs.

 

[Tkrd69]

looks like a rolly polly

 

[MissSkittles]

looks like a rolly polly

Yes, it is a rolly poly. I don’t think mine roll up though. Some isopods do and some don’t. Mine are giant canyon or porcellio dilatatus. I was always freaked out by roly polys even as a kid, so it’s quite an achievement for me to like these little buggers.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

@MissSkittles you have introduced me to a whole new world. Who knew that an isopod was a rolly polly? Of course you have the large ones! Duh. Go big or go home! Seriously, I have learned so much here. Isopods. Bioactive, Pothos, Chameleons.

 

[MissSkittles]

I’ve learned far more than I ever wanted about icky bugs since keeping my chameleons and have developed some respect and even (dare I say) compassion towards at least some of them.

 

[JacksJill]

Rolly Polly, pill bug, wood louse there are probably more common names

 

[jannb]

They are so cute! I played with rolly polys all the time as a child but never noticed any babies.

 

[DaChameleon66]

That is interesting! I think some people call them potato bugs.