What Do Roly Polies Eat?

Roly polies are cute little critters that can be spotted wriggling around in soil and leaf litter in yards, gardens and other outdoor spaces. While these small invertebrates may not look much like other animals, they have many similar needs and preferences when it comes to their diets. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what roly polies eat.

What Are Roly Polies?

Roly polies, also known as pill bugs or wood lice, are small terrestrial crustaceans that are closely related to crabs and other shellfish. They can often be seen scurrying around in the soil or in damp, dark places. Depending on their species and the environment in which they live, roly polies can range in size from 1/8 inch up to 1/2 inch. Although these animals are not typically kept as pets, they can be a fun, educational addition to a backyard or garden.

What Do Roly Polies Eat?

Roly polies are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetation. They feed on many different types of food, including decaying leaves, bark, fungi, and other organic matter. Roly pollies are also known to feed on small insects, worms, and even other smaller roly pollies.

Roly polies have a truly unique nutritional requirement, as they need to consume calcium carbonate in order to survive. Calcium carbonate is found in many sources, including the shells of crustaceans and mollusks, stones and rocks, and even some plants. Without a source of calcium carbonate, roly pollies will not be able to survive for very long.

Conclusion

Roly polies are fascinating little creatures that can be fun to observe in the backyard or garden. While they may look like a simple animal, they have many similar dietary needs and preferences as other more complex animals. If you have roly polies in your yard or garden, be sure to provide them with plenty of organic matter and sources of calcium carbonate so they can thrive.