Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Roly Poly...Bugs?
Mar 6, 2024
Discover the quirky world of roly poly bugs, tiny crustaceans often mistaken for insects! Learn about their surprising adaptations, like breathing with gills and their unique defense mechanism of curling up. These garden champions contribute to composting and boast a remarkable ability to thrive in polluted environments. With a dash of humor, the hosts also link these little critters to heavy metal music, proving that even the smallest creatures can rock our gardens!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Roly Poly Relatives
- Roly polies, often mistaken for insects, are crustaceans.
- They are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
Land-Dwelling Crustaceans
- Roly polies are the only crustaceans fully adapted to land life.
- Remarkably, they still breathe through gills.
Conglobation
- Roly polies curl into a ball, called conglobation, for defense and moisture retention.
- This is thought to be a defense mechanism against predators.