IsopodsIsopodsScientists call them isopods, which means “Scientists call them isopods, which means “equal equal legslegs.”.”

Other names they are known by are:Other names they are known by are:**roly-polyroly-poly **pill bugpill bug**potato bugpotato bug **wood lousewood louse

They are They are not insectsnot insects. They are . They are crustaceans,crustaceans, closely related to lobsters, crabs, and closely related to lobsters, crabs, and

shrimp.shrimp.

Most isopods live in water. Most isopods live in water. Our isopods are terrestrial, or Our isopods are terrestrial, or land-livingland-living isopods. isopods.

Isopod BodiesIsopod BodiesIsopods have an Isopods have an oval shapedoval shaped body. body.

Their head has one pair of Their head has one pair of antennaeantennae and two tiny and two tiny eyeseyes..

Isopods breathe through a special organ (similar to Isopods breathe through a special organ (similar to fish fish gillsgills), ),

so they need so they need moisturemoisture at all times. at all times.

Their bodies are covered by smooth, hard plates, calledTheir bodies are covered by smooth, hard plates, called segmentssegments. .

It looks like a suit of armor because their skeleton is It looks like a suit of armor because their skeleton is worn on worn on

the outside. It is an the outside. It is an exoskeletonexoskeleton..

Isopods Isopods moltmolt, which means they , which means they shed their old exoskeleton in shed their old exoskeleton in order to grow. order to grow.

Isopods get more Isopods get more legslegs when molt. when molt.*6 pairs of legs = *6 pairs of legs = young isopod (not yet molted)young isopod (not yet molted)*7 pairs of legs = *7 pairs of legs = older isopod (already molted)older isopod (already molted)

They shed ½ of their exoskeleton at a time They shed ½ of their exoskeleton at a time (front ½(front ½ first).first).

Isopods are Isopods are scavengersscavengers. . They eat They eat dead and decaying plantsdead and decaying plants..

Isopods have many predators, including Isopods have many predators, including birds, lizards, and spidersbirds, lizards, and spiders..

To protect themselves, isopods To protect themselves, isopods curl up into a ballcurl up into a ball..

Female isopods may lay up to Female isopods may lay up to 200 eggs200 eggs in her in her brood pouch. brood pouch.

How many legs will each baby have?How many legs will each baby have?

6 pairs

CricketsCricketsCrickets are Crickets are insectsinsects..

Our crickets are called Our crickets are called house cricketshouse crickets..

Crickets eat Crickets eat plantsplants, so they are , so they are consumersconsumers. . (Farmers call them pests because they do so (Farmers call them pests because they do so much damage to crops.)much damage to crops.)

Crickets are food for many animals, such as Crickets are food for many animals, such as birds, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads. snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads.

Cricket BodiesCricket Bodies

Cricket bodies have three parts: Cricket bodies have three parts: **headhead **thoraxthorax * *abdomenabdomen

The HeadThe HeadAttached to the cricket’s head are:Attached to the cricket’s head are:

**two eyestwo eyes**chewing mouth partschewing mouth parts**antennaeantennae—almost as long as its whole body—almost as long as its whole body

(They use them to feel, taste, smell, and (They use them to feel, taste, smell, and test humidity and temperature)test humidity and temperature)

The ThoraxThe ThoraxAttached to the cricket’s thorax are:Attached to the cricket’s thorax are:

**four wingsfour wings -a very young cricket, -a very young cricket, a nympha nymph = no wings = no wings-a teenage cricket = short wings-a teenage cricket = short wings-an adult cricket = full-grown wings-an adult cricket = full-grown wings (Only (Only malemale crickets make a chirping noise, by crickets make a chirping noise, by rubbing their rubbing their wingswings together. together.

They chirp to They chirp to impress female cricketsimpress female crickets.).)

**six legssix legs -each pair is different -each pair is different

Crickets can jump up to 2 feet!Crickets can jump up to 2 feet!

The AbdomenThe AbdomenAttached to the cricket’s abdomen are:Attached to the cricket’s abdomen are:

**Two spinesTwo spines, projecting from the rear, called , projecting from the rear, called cerci.cerci.

(They are used to sense vibrations in the air (They are used to sense vibrations in the air and and

ground.)ground.)

*only adult females have a third, longer projection, *only adult females have a third, longer projection,

called an called an ovipositorovipositor

-long, dark, needlelike projection-long, dark, needlelike projection

-used to -used to place her eggs into the groundplace her eggs into the ground

Label your isopodLabel your isopod

antennae

segments

Label your cricketLabel your cricket