Habituation in sow bugs - Essay Example

Habituation in Sow Bugs Sow bugs live in almost every moist environment on earth and eat mainly of decaying plant and animal materials (Common Wood Louse, 1) They usually habituate cool damp places like under rocks, rotting wood and other decaying vegetation, and need a humid environment in order to thrive (Carolina: Teamed With Teachers, 1-2). These crustaceans preference for moist environment is partly due to the lack of a waxy cuticle to cover their bodies. Thus, they are prone to drying up (Common Wood Louse, 1) .

Their activities like feeding and moving around are normally done during night time because they have a negative aversion to light. Because they are generally harmless to humans, sow bugs could be kept in plastic containers that are sealed with a ventilated lid. Use damp soil and decaying organic materials like wood, leaves, compost, etc. Put in an adequate amount of water to keep the habitat humid. Place paper towel in the container to aid in maintaining the humidity. If molds should appear, increase the ventilation or reduce the quantity of water use to make the habitat humid and cool.

Keep the container in a dimly lit area of a room which has a temperature of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. If a large number of sow bugs are to be kept in a single container it is best to change the soil from time to time to keep them in a healthy condition (Carolina Teamed with Teachers, 1-2). Caring includes feeding these terrestrials with fish food flakes, leaf litter, pieces of potatoes, apples or carrots. Aside from these foods, they also feed on their feces in order to extract extra nutrients and to regain precious copper, since copper based pigments are needed to carry oxygen in their blood (Gadsby, 4), while the bacteria present in their intestine helps in the digestion of any ingested cellulose (Woodland Dunes Nature Center, 1-2).

In order to protect their environment while encased in ventilated containers, immediately remove food that becomes moldy.Sow bugs are preyed on by bigger and many insects such as spiders, centipedes, and ground beetles . These bugs could emit a foul tasting or foul smelling substance to ward off would be predators (Kentucky Critter Files, 2). Although when in danger, sow bugs either run or remain perfectly motionless pretending to be dead (armadillo style) (Carolina Teamed with Teachers, 1-2).

In the Spring time and summer time, sow bugs sometimes migrate from their current habitat in large numbers, and would often settle into homes. The migration could be attributed to a combination of factors like temperature and humidity. An increase or decrease of moisture within their living environment would make them seek out other places that have the right moisture content (Pest Control Canada, 1).While sow bugs may have adapted to living on land, chances of drying up is a possibility. Hence, to lessen the chance of evaporation or dehydration of moisture from their body surface they huddle or congregate into groups.

Since they generally tend to avoid light and dry surroundings, if the spot they are currently living in should dry-up, they immediately move to find another moist spot (Woodland Dunes Nature Center, 1-2). A heavy infestation of sow bugs indoors indicates a large population outdoors (Luke 1-2). The presence of sow bugs shows a high moisture content within a living space. And that could likewise indicate other problems like presence of mildew, wood rot and a breeding ground for other insects (Common Woodlouse, 1) that could turn out to be pests.

Removing plant debris and other decaying materials from the garden or near the house generally discourages their presence within homes and the surrounding areas.ReferencesCarolina Teamed with Teachers. (n.d.) Pill Bugs and Sow Bugs October 6, 2008. http://www.carolina/text/pdf/care_guides/Pillbugs_and_Sowbugs_care.pdfCommon Wood Louse. (n.d.) Sow Bug, Pill Bug. September 8, 2008 http://www.cirrusimage.com/isopoda_sow_bug.htmGadsby, Patricia. August 1999. How Now, Sow Bug?- sow bugs are not insects. BNET. September 6, 2008.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mim17511/is_8_20/ai_55248816Kentucky Critter Files. May 25, 2004. Kentucky Sow Bugs: University of Kentucky Entomology. September 6, 2008. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/carefile/relatives/sowbugs/sowbug.htmLuke, Alan. July 31, 2008. Centipedes and Millipedes: bugaboopest Central. September 8, 2008. http://www.bug-guy.com/Other%20louse%20Invaders.htmPest Control Canada. (n.d.) Pest Information and Control Solutions. Septbember 8, 2008. http://www.pestcontrolcanada.

com/INSECTS/pill_bugs_sow_bugs.htmWoodland Dunes Nature Center. July 1, 2001. Ripples from the Dunes, Sow Bugs. September 6, 2008 http://www.woodlanddunes.com/ripples_arch_070101.html