Common Pill Bug

May 11, 2026

Sample information
Picture
Location
Collection date 05/04/2026
Captive / Cultivated? Wild-caught
Group California Academy of Mathematics and Science
Observations

Our group found these roly polys in some grassy area near our school. We collected them at about 10 am, and it was sunny with a slight breeze, about 68 degrees F outside. Here, we attached an image of the areas that we collected these roly polys from. There were many different roly polys, but we picked the three that had the most contrasting disparity in size.
Putative identification Arthropoda Malacostraca Isopoda Armadillidae Armadillidium Armadillidium vulgare

Methods
Extraction kit Edwards Buffer
DNA extraction location Abdomen
Single or Duplex PCR Duplex Reaction
Gel electrophoresis system Standard electrophoresis system Bio-Rad
Buffer 1X TAE
DNA stain UView
Gel images
Protocol notes

We will collect pill bugs of various sizes: 1 large (>10 mm long), 1 medium (~10 mm long), 1 large (<10 mm long). 

Used forceps to pick the roly poly up, ensuring not to harm them and keep them as whole as possible when putting into collection tube to ensure enough DNA would be collected.

Results
Wolbachia presence Unknown
Confidence level High
Explanation of confidence level

The gel we ran was inconclusive because the controls for + and – did not appear on the gel, making it unclear whether the DNA samples were positive for Wolbachia.
Wolbachia 16S sequence
Arthropod COI sequence
Summary
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