We often come across these creatures, which have an average length of 15 millimeters, in damp areas in our homes and gardens.
But do they pose a danger to our health? Actually, which class does it belong to? Let’s take a look at the information that will make you love these creatures that we have lived together for a long time.
Although we call them ball bugs or rosary bugs, they are not actually bugs.
They are in the “seven-legged, shelled suit” class; that is, they are not included in the class called “insecta”, which includes insects. They are related to shrimp, crabs and krill.
In addition, when the fossils of these interesting creatures were examined, it was determined that they had a history of 300 million years.
To date, 10,000 species have been described.
Of these, about 4,500 live in seas, 500 in fresh waters, and the remaining 5,000 on land, and they are divided into 10 suborders.
The species Bathynomus giganteus has a gigantic size compared to rosary beetles.
It was first described by a French zoologist in 1879 when it was caught in fishermen’s nets in the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately, we do not see this species in our house.
Different types of closure can also be different.
In this example you see a version that is both larger and closes without leaving a gap.
The scientific name for rosary beetles, “armadillidium vulgare,” comes from the animal called armadillo.
These animals can also take the shape of a ball, just like rosary beetles. They have a layered armor, this is how they can be protected from enemy attacks. Also, both creatures dig the ground in search of food.
The reason they like damp places is because they can’t hold water in their bodies.
For this reason, they are seen in humid environments such as toilets, bathrooms and gardens. If the weather isn’t what they want, they’ll run into attics or basements.
Outdoors, they prefer under tree stumps, rocks, flower pots and trash cans. They often move at night to conserve moisture. Temperatures below -2°C or above 36°C are fatal for them.
They can mate throughout the year, more often in March and April.
Females incubate their eggs in a fluid-filled sac inside their bodies. This process takes 3 to 7 weeks and the fry remain in the pouch for 2 months. After 1 year, they reach sexual maturity.
Although rosary beetles, which can live for an average of 3 years, look cute, they can sometimes be killed with pesticides because they are undesirable.
However, they are useful in eliminating harmful heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, which are harmful to the earth. It is recommended not to kill them, as they contribute to the cleaning of the soil and groundwater.
BONUS: You can help them with a little touch, as they have trouble straightening up when they’re upside down – as with turtles.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
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