Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, May 2, 2026
This past Sunday on a walk, I noticed this little bug trundling along a semi-paved trail, and laid down my black Bic pen in its path to give the scale. By the time I got my smartphone out to take a picture, the bug had wriggled around the pen-cap and was moving methodically away.
Through a bit of AI-searching, I found the Wikipedia link below. Turns out this bug has a Latin name that’s about five times as long as it is: Armadillidium vulgare. (I’m sure the vulgare part doesn’t mean it’s foul-mouthed, but is a synonym for “common.”)
I find myself feeling a bit tender-hearted toward this bug. It’s not flashy. It has no color that would attract much attention (something it would probably grateful for if it gave it a moment of thought), so it just toils along from Point A to Point B, doing its duty.
And if you take a moment to study Wikipedia’s fascinating article, you will find that this bug indeed does have several important roles in the ecosystem. Check it out. And give a reverent salute to its Creator!