Its Released

  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    The New Era of Digital Women Leaders
    Internetchicks: The New Era of Digital Women Leaders
    Business Technology
    Property Projects
    Why UK Property Projects Now Rely on Environmental and Boundary Experts
    Business
    Guide for Finding a Reliable Plumber Adelaide Locals Trust
    Guide for Finding a Reliable Plumber Adelaide Locals Trust
    Business
    Are Vacant Industrial Spaces the Cities of the Future?
    Business
    UCAS Personal Statement Writers Who Help You Get Noticed – and Accepted
    Business
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    The Ultimate Guide to benefits of germkezmis1212 Human Resource Consulting
    The Ultimate Guide to benefits of germkezmis1212 Human Resource Consulting
    Tech
    How to Watch the Latest Movies on IPTV Sverige
    Tech
    How Salesforce Email Creates Better Customer Connections
    Tech
    Family Vacations in Bali: A Perfect Tropical Getaway for All Ages
    Tech
    Turn Your Stories into Voiceovers, GIFs, and eBooks with Patmya
    Tech
  • Software
    SoftwareShow More
    How to Utilize TheHRWP for Enhanced Workforce Management
    How to Utilize TheHRWP for Enhanced Workforce Management
    Software
    Top Features to Look for in Auto Detailing Software in 2025
    Top Features to Look for in Auto Detailing Software in 2025
    Software Technology
    Purchasing the Original Licensed Software: Everything You Need to Know
    Purchasing the Original Licensed Software: Everything You Need to Know
    Software
    spotify - web player: music for everyone
    spotify – web player: music for everyone
    Software
    What Role Will AI Face Swaps Play in Virtual Reality Environments?
    What Role Will AI Face Swaps Play in Virtual Reality Environments?
    Software
  • News
    NewsShow More
    Royal Caribbean News: Latest Updates and Announcements
    Royal Caribbean News: Latest Updates and Announcements
    News
    DGMNews.com: Your Go-To Source for the Latest Updates
    DGMNews.com: Your Go-To Source for the Latest Updates
    News
    When Does lilapalooza Take Place? Key Dates and Details
    When Does lilapalooza Take Place? Key Dates and Details
    News
    SG Newsletter: Your Source for Updates
    SG Newsletter: Your Source for Updates
    News
    Everything You Need to Know About Tecnoregio News
    Everything You Need to Know About Tecnoregio News
    News
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    LifestyleShow More
    Nomurano: Understanding the Term, Origins, and Cultural Significance
    Nomurano: Understanding the Term, Origins, and Cultural Significance
    Lifestyle
    Carpet Beetles: Identification, Prevention, and How to Get Rid of Them
    Carpet Beetles: Identification, Prevention, and How to Get Rid of Them
    Lifestyle
    Trendy Baby Tees: Style Your Little One
    Trendy Baby Tees: Style Your Little One
    Lifestyle
    Loft Conversion in South West London
    Lifestyle
    How Technology is Changing the Way We Meet People
    Lifestyle
  • Blogs
    BlogsShow More
    Benefits of Using Custom Mall Kiosks for Retail Business
    Blogs
    The Ultimate Ambani Book Guide: From Struggles to Empire Building
    Blogs Education
    dropshipping books
    Dropshipping Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read to Succeed
    Blogs
    shipstation login
    ShipStation Login: Secure Your Shipping Account with These Easy Steps
    Blogs
    fortnite quotes
    Game On: Fortnite Quotes to Live By in Every Match
    Blogs
  • Entertainment
    EntertainmentShow More
    is mangafire safe
    is mangafire safe
    Entertainment
    What Is Doodflix and How Does It Work?
    What Is Doodflix and How Does It Work?
    Entertainment
    pinayflix
    pinayflix
    Entertainment
    The Power of Visual Storytelling: Driving Engagement with Creative Videos
    The Power of Visual Storytelling: Driving Engagement with Creative Videos
    Entertainment
    Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3: When It Starts, What’s New, and How to Unlock Rewards
    Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3: When It Starts, What’s New, and How to Unlock Rewards
    Entertainment
  • Travel
    TravelShow More
    Your Taxi Service in Toronto and Beyond
    Your Taxi Service in Toronto and Beyond
    Business Travel
    Experience Luxury Mediterranean Cruises Like Never Before
    Travel
    Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide: Best Places to See and Things to Do
    Travel
    Romantic getaway: 4 Things to do in Italy as a couple
    Travel
    PR in Canada
    French Exam for PR in Canada: Everything You Need to Know
    Travel
  • Contact us
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa

Its Released

Search
banner
Create an Amazing Newspaper
Discover thousands of options, easy to customize layouts, one-click to import demo and much more.
Learn More

Stay Updated

Get the latest headlines, discounts for the military community, and guides to maximizing your benefits
Subscribe

Explore

  • Photo of The Day
  • Opinion
  • Today's Epaper
  • Trending News
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Special Deals
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme Powered by WordPress

Roly Poly Bug Secrets: Identification, Habitats & Surprising Garden Roles

Admin By Admin April 22, 2025 8 Min Read
Share
Roly Poly Bug Secrets: Identification, Habitats & Surprising Garden Roles

You know them as roly polies, pill bugs, or maybe “doodlebugs”—those tiny, armor-plated critters that curl into perfect balls at the first sign of danger. But how much do you really know about these fascinating creatures? Whether you’re a curious gardener, parent, or budding entomologist, this guide pulls back the soil to reveal what makes roly poly bug intriguing, their roles in local ecosystems, and how to spot (or deter) them in your garden.

Contents
What Are Roly Poly Bugs?How to Identify Roly Poly BugsWhere Do Roly Poly Bugs Live?What Do Roly Poly Bugs Eat?Why Roly Polies Are Important in the EcosystemRoly Polies in the Garden: Friend or Foe?The Positive SidePotential DownsidesGetting Rid of Roly Polies: Control Methods1. Reduce Moisture2. Remove Hiding Spots3. Garden Barriers4. Limit Entry Indoors5. Natural Predators & TrapsFun Facts About Roly PoliesWhy You Should Appreciate Roly Poly Bugs

What Are Roly Poly Bugs?

Roly poly bugs are small, segmented crustaceans found all over the world. Scientifically, they belong to the order Isopoda and the family Armadiillidiidae, with the most common species in North America known as Armadillidium vulgare. Uniquely, they are among the few land-dwelling crustaceans, more closely related to shrimp and crabs than to insects.

These bugs earned their “roly poly” name from their remarkable ability to roll up tightly into a ball (a defense called conglobation) when disturbed. This trademark move is both adorable and effective, protecting their soft underbellies from predators and environmental threats.

How to Identify Roly Poly Bugs

If you’ve spotted a tiny, grayish creature with armor-like plates wandering through your mulch bed, you might be looking at a roly poly. Here’s how to tell for sure:

  • Size: Adults measure about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length.
  • Shape: Oval and slightly convex, with a series of overlapping armor-like segments.
  • Color: Most are dark gray, but some can appear slate blue or brown.
  • Legs: Seven pairs (14 total), mostly hidden under their bodies.
  • Antennae: Two pairs, but only one visible pair is usually noticeable.
  • Notable Behavior: Will roll into a tight ball when touched or threatened.

Pill bugs (Armadillidium spp.) are different from their cousin sowbugs (Porcellio spp.), which cannot roll into a ball and have flatter bodies with tail-like appendages.

Where Do Roly Poly Bugs Live?

Roly poly bugs thrive in moist environments, as they breathe through gill-like structures and are highly sensitive to drying out. You’ll commonly find them in:

  • Leaf litter and compost piles
  • Under rocks, logs, or flowerpots
  • Mulched garden beds
  • Basements or crawlspaces (if damp enough)

They prefer dark spaces with high humidity and organic matter, steering clear of dry, sun-exposed areas where they can dehydrate.

What Do Roly Poly Bugs Eat?

These bugs are true decomposers. Their primary diet includes:

  • Decaying leaves and wood
  • Fungi and mosses
  • Rotting fruit and vegetable matter
  • Occasionally, living plant roots or stems (especially in overly damp conditions)

This voracious appetite for organic detritus means they’re helping to recycle nutrients, but in some cases (and numbers), they might nibble on tender seedlings or fruit lying on damp soil.

Why Roly Polies Are Important in the Ecosystem

Roly poly bugs play a critical part in their local environments:

  • Decomposition: Breaking down decaying organic matter, turning it into rich soil.
  • Nutrient cycling: Their droppings add nutrients back into the earth, feeding plants and microbes.
  • Food source: They’re snacks for birds, frogs, spiders, and other wildlife.
  • Heavy metal cleanup: Some studies show roly poly bugs accumulate heavy metals, reducing toxicity in local soil.

By quietly breaking down the “waste” in your yard, they help support vibrant, healthy ecosystems.

Roly Polies in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

Most gardeners consider roly poly bugs more helpful than harmful. Here’s why:

The Positive Side

  • Compost Champions: They accelerate composting by eating and breaking down dead plant matter.
  • Soil Aerators: Their burrowing helps mix and aerate the upper layers of soil, improving drainage and root growth.
  • Pest Competition: They can out-compete more harmful pests for decaying material.

Potential Downsides

Problems arise when populations explode or when conditions stay overly damp:

  • Seedling Damage: Large groups may munch on tender seedling roots or soft fruit touching the ground.
  • Household Invaders: Occasionally, they wander into basements or garages, though they don’t survive long indoors.

On balance, if numbers are moderate, roly polies are likely doing more good than harm in your garden.

Getting Rid of Roly Polies: Control Methods

If you’re facing a real roly poly invasion, try these practical steps:

1. Reduce Moisture

Since roly polies need dampness to survive:

  • Fix leaks or improve drainage around your house.
  • Avoid overwatering garden beds and potted plants.
  • Rake up leaves and debris where water collects.

2. Remove Hiding Spots

Clear potential habitats like:

  • Piles of wood, stones, or grass clippings
  • Excess mulch
  • Cardboard or newspaper layers

3. Garden Barriers

Ring young seedlings or vulnerable plants with diatomaceous earth or copper tape, which deter roly polies physically.

4. Limit Entry Indoors

Seal cracks and doors at ground level. Reduce indoor humidity with dehumidifiers to make homes unappealing.

5. Natural Predators & Traps

Encourage natural predators (like birds) by not using pesticides. You can also roll up wet newspaper “traps” overnight, then discard the bugs in the morning.

Avoid resorting to chemical controls; they’re usually unnecessary and can upset beneficial garden life.

Fun Facts About Roly Polies

  • They’re not insects: Roly polies are crustaceans, closely related to shrimp and lobsters.
  • Can drink with their rear end: Roly polies can take in water vapor directly through special tubes in their rear segments.
  • Blue blood: Due to copper-based hemocyanin (instead of iron-rich hemoglobin), their blood appears blue.
  • “Book lungs?” No lungs here! They breathe through gill-like soles on their undersides.
  • Gender reveal: Only female pill bugs carry eggs—in a special pouch (the marsupium!) until the young are ready to hatch.
  • Lifespan: Many live up to three years, making them unusually long-lived for creatures their size.
  • Heavy metal heroes: Scientists study them for their remarkable ability to absorb toxins and heavy metals from the soil.

Why You Should Appreciate Roly Poly Bugs

Next time you spot a roly poly bug in your garden or under a rock, take a moment to appreciate its work. Roly polies are silent partners in keeping our ecosystems running smoothly. Their tireless eating and burrowing create healthy, fertile soil, while their quirky habits make them fun to watch (and a hit with kids).

If you’re managing their populations carefully, you’ll find they do far more good than harm. Consider leaving them to their important business and perhaps snap a photo or two!

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Previous Article Discovering Erime: Everything You Need to Know Discovering Erime: Everything You Need to Know
Next Article Roman Candles 101: A Complete Guide to Fun, Safety, and Where to Buy Roman Candles 101: A Complete Guide to Fun, Safety, and Where to Buy

Sign up for our Daily newsletter

Subscribe

You Might Also Like

Nomurano: Understanding the Term, Origins, and Cultural Significance

Nomurano: Understanding the Term, Origins, and Cultural Significance

Lifestyle
Carpet Beetles: Identification, Prevention, and How to Get Rid of Them

Carpet Beetles: Identification, Prevention, and How to Get Rid of Them

Lifestyle
Trendy Baby Tees: Style Your Little One

Trendy Baby Tees: Style Your Little One

Lifestyle

Loft Conversion in South West London

Lifestyle
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?