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Albert_136
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Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2017 1:51 pm
Location: Nevada (Sunset 2b)

Is a ''pill bug'' just a ''sow bug''?

Is a ''pill bug'' same as ''sow bug''?
Or are they different critters?
Or do the names overlap?
Or....?

jeff84
Senior Member
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 10:38 pm
Location: southwest indiana

yes they are both common names for the same critter. there are basically 2 different varieties. those who curl up into perfect little spheres and those who really don't although you can make them, but they wont do it on their own. neither are harmful to plants

imafan26
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Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

On the side their relatives are shrimp.

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Gary350
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Posts: 7396
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:59 pm
Location: TN. 50 years of gardening experience.

Ball Bug, it turns into a ball if you touch it.

SQWIB
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Posts: 970
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 9:21 am
Location: Zone 7A - Philadelphia, PA

Yeah they get big too, just pulled this guy off of one of my tomato plants yesterday.

Image

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MockY
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Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 5:30 pm
Location: Sacramento, Zone 9b

SQWIB wrote:Yeah they get big too, just pulled this guy off of one of my tomato plants yesterday.

Image

What are you feeding your tomatoes in order for them to be large enough to host that critter? :)

Vanisle_BC
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Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:02 pm
Location: Port Alberni, B.C. Canada, Zone 7 (+?)

Mocky, tell us - what IS that thing? If the photo is fake I see no evidence - it's extremely well done. Maybe it's a big plastic model of a pillbug/sowbug/woodbug or - in the Scotland of my youth - a slater.

thanrose
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Posts: 716
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Jacksonville, FLZone 9A

Bet it's a sea dwelling relative, from the Pacific Ocean's northwest coast. Nothing at all unusual about it, other than the depth at which they live.

pepperhead212
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Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:52 pm
Location: Woodbury NJ Zone 7a/7b

Pillbugs are isopods, and there are some very large ones out there, but not in our gardens.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod

imafan26
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Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

A prehistoric remnant?

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applestar
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

OK I HAD to “dig/dish this up” :>

Kuzco and Pacha eating Pill Bugs



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