If you’ve ever overturned a stone or moved a pot in your garden, you’ve likely seen those little gray critters curl into a ball. It’s common to wonder, do rolly pollies eat plants? These garden dwellers, also known as pill bugs or woodlice, are a familiar sight, but their diet is often misunderstood. Let’s clear up what they really munch on and how they fit into your garden’s ecosystem.
You might blame them for damaged seedlings or nibbled leaves. But the truth is a bit more nuanced. Rolly pollies are actually decomposers, not primary plant-eaters. Their main job is to clean up decaying matter. This makes them more of a cleanup crew than a destructive pest in most healthy gardens.
Do Rolly Pollies Eat Plants
The short answer is: sometimes, but it’s not their first choice. Rolly pollies are detritivores. This means they prefer dead and decaying organic material. Think rotting wood, fallen leaves, compost, and even dead insects. They play a vital role in breaking down this matter and returning nutrients to the soil.
However, in certain situations, they will feed on living plant tissue. This usually happens when their preferred food sources are scarce. They might nibble on tender seedlings, low-hanging fruits like strawberries, or the roots of young plants. But they rarely attack healthy, established plants in a garden with plenty of organic matter.
What Do Rolly Pollies Actually Eat?
To understand their impact, it’s helpful to look at their menu. Here’s what’s on a rolly polly’s plate, in order of preference:
* Decaying Wood and Leaves: This is their favorite food. They help decompose logs, leaf litter, and other plant debris.
* Decomposing Vegetables and Fruit: Fallen, overripe produce in the garden is a feast for them.
* Fungal Growth: They eat mold, mildew, and other fungi that grow on damp wood and soil.
* Living Plants (Secondary Food Source): When overcrowded or when decaying matter is lacking, they may turn to:
* Tender seedlings and sprouts.
* Thin-rooted plants.
* Fruits and vegetables in direct contact with damp soil.
Are They Pests or Helpers in the Garden?
Most of the time, rolly pollies are beneficial. Their recycling work improves soil structure and fertility. They are a sign of healthy, moist soil with good organic content. You should generally welcome them in your compost pile and garden beds.
They become a nuisance only under specific conditions. If their population booms or their environment gets too dry, they might seek moisture and food in your prized plants. Damage is often a symptom of another issue, like excess moisture or lack of alternative food.
How to Tell if Rolly Pollies Are Causing Damage
It’s easy to mistake other pests for rolly polly damage. Slugs, snails, and caterpillars are often the real culprits. Here’s how to identify rolly polly feeding:
* Look for irregular chewed edges on leaves or stems very close to the soil.
* Check for damage on seedlings that have been completely eaten.
* Inspect fruits like strawberries or tomatoes where they touch the ground; you may find shallow, irregular holes.
* The best proof is to go out at night with a flashlight, as they are most active then.
Creating a Balanced Garden Environment
The goal isn’t to eliminate rolly pollies, but to manage their environment so they stick to their helpful roles. A balanced garden has fewer problems. Here’s how to encourage them to eat debris, not your plants:
1. Reduce Excess Moisture: This is the biggest step. Fix leaky faucets, improve drainage, and water in the morning so the soil surface dries by evening.
2. Clean Up Hiding Places: Remove boards, stones, thick mulch piles, and leaf litter right against plant stems.
3. Provide Alternative Food: Place decomposing material like potato halves or orange peels in a damp, shaded spot away from seedlings to attract them.
4. Use Barriers: Protect seedlings with cloches (like cut plastic bottles) or a light dusting of diatomaceous earth (reapply after rain).
5. Elevate Your Plants: Use stakes, cages, or trellises to keep fruits and foliage off the damp ground.
Natural Control Methods for Overpopulation
If you have a true infestation damaging your plants, try these natural controls first. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides, as they harm the beneficial insects you want.
* Hand-Picking: At night, collect them from affected plants and relocate them to your compost area.
* Traps: Sink small containers (like yogurt cups) into the soil near problem areas. Fill them with a bait like beer or a piece of potato. The rolly pollies will fall in and can be removed.
* Encourage Predators: Birds, toads, frogs, and some beetles will eat rolly pollies. A birdbath or a small toad house can invite these natural predators to help.
What About Your Seedlings and Pots?
Seedlings are most at risk because they are tender and often in moist starter trays. To protect them:
* Start seeds indoors or in a protected frame until they are sturdier.
* Avoid overwatering seed trays.
* If keeping pots outdoors, ensure the drainage holes are clear and not blocked, creating a damp hideout. You can also place the pots on stands or feet to improve air flow.
Remember, a few nibbled seedlings doesn’t mean war. Often, simply letting the soil dry a bit between waterings solves the issue.
The Lifecycle of a Rolly Polly
Understanding their lifecycle helps with management. They are crustaceans, more related to shrimp than insects! Females carry eggs in a pouch. After hatching, the young stay in the pouch for a short time before venturing out. They molt in two stages, which is why you might sometimes see odd-looking, half-white pill bugs. This whole process requires a humid environment, which is why they constantly seek moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do pill bugs eat plant roots?
A: They can, especially if the roots are thin, young, or already decaying. Healthy roots on established plants are usually safe.
Q: Are rolly pollies bad for my garden?
A: Not usually. They are beneficial decomposers. They only become problematic in large numbers with limited decaying food sources.
Q: What’s the difference between a pill bug and a sow bug?
A: Pill bugs (rolly pollies) can roll into a perfect ball. Sow bugs have two tail-like appendages and cannot roll up completely. Their diets and habits are very similar.
Q: How to get rid of pill bugs eating my plants?
A: Focus on habitat modification first: reduce moisture, clean up debris, and use traps. This is more effective and sustainable than trying to kill them all.
Q: Do rolly pollies eat vegetables?
A: They prefer decaying vegetables. But they may eat soft-skinned vegetables like lettuce, spinach, or ripe tomatoes if they are lying on wet soil.
Q: What plants do pill bugs hate?
A: They don’t really “hate” any plants, but they are less likely to bother plants with tough, thick leaves or woody stems. They strongly prefer decaying material over any living plant.
In conclusion, rolly pollies are mostly garden friends. Their primary mission is to recycle waste, not eat your harvest. By managing moisture and providing plenty of organic matter for them to decompose, you can easily co-exist. They help create the rich, healthy soil that every gardener wants. So next time you see one, appreciate it for the tiny recycler it is—just maybe guide it away from your newest seedlings.