Pill Woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare) with Young

Pill Woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare) with Young, originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

I have wanted to get photographs of this for years, and am thrilled that when I finally did they came out this well. Woodlice carry their eggs on their belly until hatching and the young go on their way. This pill woodlouse was fit to burst with hatched young. It always amazes me how so many babies fit into such a small space - when the egg sac bursts it is quite the explosion of young!