Backyard bug identification help!??!?

Question

hey everyone. well, there's these bugs that i've found in my backyard that exist almost everywhere- USA and Canada and beyond i suppose - and we've always called them "potato bugs" around here. I was trying to look up what they eat , and a different bug came up as being classified as a "potato bug". These bugs are grey, sometimes light sometimes dark dark grey, and if threatened or touched, they sometimes curl up in a ball. they have 7 sets of legs (14 in total) as far as i know. they're often found under low lying, most areas, under rocks, on rotting wood, and under BBQ mats. :) does any body know a specific name for these insects?

Answer 1

They're not insects they're crustaceans, one of very few exclusively land-dwelling crustaceans actually, though they still need moisture to survive. We call them roly poly bugs, potato bugs or pillbugs, but the actual family name is Armadillidiidae. I don't know much beyond that as I believe there are several genera. However, if you look up Armadillidiidae I'm sure you'll be able to find any information you might want.

Answer 2

thats a rolie polie. I dont know their scientific name, but thats what they are. They like to find houses in very moist places, like under a rock and rotting wood.

Answer 3

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...

heres a potato bug

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/potato_2.htm...