How To Get Rid Of Roly Poly Bugs In My Garden

Pill Bugs

Organic Pest Control: Pill Bugs

Pill Bugs (Armadillidiidae) or roly-poly bugs are hard-shell crustaceans and natural decomposers. They exist everywhere and are part of the group of creatures that break down dead organic matter into the soil. But since they are hard shell terrestrial crustaceans, they rely on moisture to survive.

Roly Poly Bug rolled up in a little ball

Roly Polies are fascinating when you are a kid because they roll up into a little ball when you touch them. But as an adult, pill bugs are pesky little pests that can infest your garden and greenhouse.

They can become destructive in cases where:

1. They are not exposed to their many natural predators like birds, and become overpopulated.

2. Mulch is used in abundance, therefore giving them ample moisture and shelter from predators. Large populations of pill bugs can live and multiply in mulch.

3. In dry depleted soil where there is not enough organic matter for them to decompose and not enough moisture for them to live. This forces them to resort to eating living plant matter in your garden.

4. The root structure of your plants is not healthy making them vulnerable to pests such as the pill bug.

Because greenhouses often provide one or even all of these conditions, pill bugs can become an infuriating issue that can make us feel defeated as organic gardeners.

How to Rid Your Garden of Pill Bugs

There are many ways to get rid of pill bugs and Growing Spaces would like to help. Here are a few ways to get pill bugs under control and enjoy a healthy thriving garden.

Strong Roots and Strong Soil

The key to organic pest control is having healthy soil and a healthy root structure. We use compost, compost teas, organic matter, good bacteria, efficient watering, and mycorrhizae such as Orca. If Pill Bugs have enough organic matter and moisture in your soil, they won't need to use your plants as a food source. Also, if the cell walls of your plant's roots are strong it makes the plants less vulnerable to pill bugs. Young plants are also more vulnerable to pill bugs.

Beer Traps

Beer Trap for Pill Bugs and Roly Poly Bugs

Any beer will do. Pill bugs aren't picky. Put beer in a used can or plastic cup and sink into the soil, making the lip of the container match the soil level. Pill bugs will drown themselves in beer. The trap should be checked daily and changed at least every two days.

Potato or other Fruit or Vegetable Traps

Cut potatoes can be placed along edges, and the underside checked each morning for pill bugs. I recommend a small container of oil to brush them into and kill them. Grapefruit or orange rinds, mango skin, and many other fruits or vegetables that retain moisture are also good options.

Bamboo, PVC, or Toilet Roll Traps

A few inches of any tube cut lengthwise in half. Then duct tape fitted to the bottom side face up and placed on the soil by an edge where pill bugs will get stuck to tape looking for a moist, dark place to hide. This trap should be checked often as moisture from watering decreases the stickiness of duct tape. Other kinds of tape or sticky traps can last longer and trap more at a time.

Remove mulch and dead plant mater

Roly Poly bugs love living and multiplying in mulch

Pill bugs live and multiply under mulch. As decomposers, they consume and use mulch as shelter. If you remove mulch, they will be forced into traps as they are always seeking moisture and darkness. Pill bugs will also feed on decaying plant material in your garden, so removing this quickly will also force them into the traps.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a safe way to desiccate or dry out pill bugs, therefore killing them. Spread Diatomaceous along edges of your planting beds where pill bugs like to live. Unfortunately, it also kills ants and various other insects, meaning it could be harmful to ladybugs and other beneficial bugs but safe for worms. Believe it or not, diatomaceous earth is even edible, and many people find consuming it beneficial to health and wellness. It is not healthy to breathe as the dust is abrasive to the lungs. Wearing a mask is recommended when spreading it.

Disposable Cups

Although we try not to use single-use plastic whenever possible, we have been known to use plastic or paper cups in the Growing Domes around our new sprouts (particularly bean sprouts) to protect them from all kinds of things, especially pill bugs. Just cut the bottom off of the cup and press it into the soil around any new sprouts. Plastic cups are more rigid, so they hold up to watering better, but paper works too as they don't have to last very long before they are removed.

In some cases, people like to leave them on and cut them off later when the plant is fully mature, for extra protection. This is fine if you don't mind how the cups look. They are nice to leave on in the spring in case of cutworms or other destructive beasties that hatch out at that time and can do a lot of damage.

Sluggo Plus

Sluggo Plus is a broad-spectrum organic pesticide that poisons a wide variety of insects but is safe for birds and various other wildlife. It is OMRI certified but is not safe for human consumption and is also a danger to some beneficial insects. I do not recommend it in most cases, but it may be helpful in some extreme cases for short term use to bring a pill bug population down to more manageable numbers.

I hope these solutions to get rid of pill bugs get you back to gardening with success and joy. If you have any questions about roly-poly bugs or organic pest control you can contact me at heather@growingspaces.com or check out our other blogs on organic pest control

Written By: Heather Gray

I am a gardener and educator here at Growing Spaces. I have farmed and gardened for 27 years in clay, loam, and sand in many different environments. I'm certified in Permaculture design and have taught college courses in agroecology. My focus is on Organic, Holistic, Sustainability.

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