They are particularly fond of rotting food that is well on its way to decaying. If you intend to keep these critters as pets, then make sure that the food is rotten before putting it in their habitat. Although, as much as these critters survive of decaying matter, moldy food poses a danger to their lives. Strangely enough, rolly pollies cannot safely process moldy food and often die off when exposed to such sources of sustenance.
As crustaceans, these critters have gills that allow them to get the water they need from the moisture within their habitat. That is why open water sources pose a danger to these little buggers.
Any open water source is a potential drowning hazard for rolly pollies. For that reason, rolly pollies do not live in ponds or swimming pools; they live in moist environments such as mulch beds and damp soil. They can typically be found curled up under fallen vegetation, wood, and rocks. As we mentioned, some people actually keep them as pets. If you are, however, not one of those people, then you can view them as pests to some extent.
The main reason for this is that, although rolly pollies typically feed on decaying matter, come winter time when their food runs out, they can turn on the roots of your plants. If you are a farmer, this is not something you want hanging around your property. Anything that can turn plant roots into a meal is bad for business.
Additionally, rolly pollies will easily snack on vegetables and fruits growing in your garden. Avid gardeners do not take this sort of thing lightly, especially when they begin to destroy entire orchards just to survive. That being said, rolly pollies can also be a major ally when it comes to managing stink bugs.
These bugs tend to damage plants by feeding on their juices both internally and externally. Rolly pollies, on the other hand, feed on stink bug eggs thus keeping their population down and saving your plants in the long run. Rolly pollies also take dead matter and decompose it thus providing invaluable nutrients to the soil around their habitats. In reality, rolly pollies do more good than they do harm.
But, as we mentioned, it is all a matter of perspective. Are you willing to let these critters roam freely on your land decomposing dead matter or do you think the fact that they could eat plant roots is a deal breaker? We have already covered the fact that they are not exactly insects and that they may or may not be harmful to your property depending on the hunger situation.
Here are some other facts that you may find interesting about rolly pollies:. To most people, this will not make sense because creatures that breathe through gills live under water. The problem here is that although pill bugs do breathe through gills, they will actually drown when submerged in water. Strange Feeding Habits Pill bugs do have some rather peculiar feeding habits since they are known to eat their own feces, as well as feces from other animals. What Eats Pill Bugs? Resources Dig Deeper on Sowbugs.
What Do Sowbugs Eat? What Do Pill Bugs Eat? After it rains, flat, gray-colored bugs come inside my home. Q Can you tell me what these bugs are and how to get rid of them? House is infested by rolly pollies. To stop them from destroying the crops , farmers spray liquids such as vinegar, boric acid, or apple cider to keep them at bay.
Rolly-pollies have been observed to engage in cannibalism. Often, the younger individuals or weaker members are targeted by the adult rolly-pollies. These newborns and weaklings are captured by the more potent and powerful adult rolly-pollies and are then eaten. In other scenarios, cannibalism can take the form where the deceased bodies of rolly-pollies are fed on by other live members.
This can also be described as scavenging. The bacterium that has been shown to be transferred in this manner is Wolbachia pipientis. Rolly-pollies mostly display nocturnal tendencies. They tend to look for food and eat at night. During the day, rolly-pollies are inactive and are thus likely to be found hiding in dark and humid areas, which are often under logs, rocks, or fallen leaves. Rolly-pollies can feed as much as they want to as long as there is food availability.
In the event of scarcity, the rate of food consumption drops. Further, when food resources are limited, rolly-pollies are pushed to engage in unusual food habits. For instance, many rolly-pollies are driven to engage in cannibalism when food resources are scarce. Aside from taking part in cannibalism during scarcity, rolly-pollies may also feed on their younger ones during the mating season.
Rolly-pollies play an essential role in the animal food chain. Rolly-pollies are notable decomposers , and they play an imperative task in the digestion of decaying matter from both animals and plants. As a result of this action, rolly-pollies return more nutrients to the soil, thus playing a part in ensuring other animals have an environment where they can propagate and thrive.
Their presence in the environment means the ecosystem is thriving. In addition to this role, pill bugs are a great source of nutrition to other animals that rely on them for food. Examples of the organisms that feed on pill bugs include but are not limited to some ant and spider species. What Do Rolly Pollies Eat?. Key References. Accessed June 07, Top 16 Animals with the Best Hearing.
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