If the pill bug dries out, its gills won’t function properly and the pill bug can suffocate. … If they start to overheat and dry out, pill bugs will even roll into a ball to protect the remaining moisture on their gills.

Why do pill bugs roll up when touched?

These dark bugs definitely live up to their nickname – they roll up into a ball for protection whenever they feel threatened.

How long do Rolly Pollies stay rolled up?

After the eggs hatch, the roly-poly babies stay in the pouch for three or four days before they crawl out. They look like tiny, colorless copies of their mom, and they stay near her for about a year until they grow into adults.