Woodlice. Potato bugs. Pill bugs. Roly polies. They look like a shrimp crossed with an armadillo and they seem to have a different name everywhere the

'Roly-poly' Bugs Are Great Garden Composters | HowStuffWorks

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2020-06-12 13:30:19

Woodlice. Potato bugs. Pill bugs. Roly polies. They look like a shrimp crossed with an armadillo and they seem to have a different name everywhere they're found. In fact, the scientific name for these little armor-plated, armadillo-like creatures is Armadillidium vulgare.

With 12 known species of roly-poly bugs found in the United State alone, these tiny gray crustaceans (yup, they aren't insects, but crustaceans, just like crab and lobster) inhabit the northern and central parts of the country, as well as many dark, damp places across the world. They're the only crustaceans that have adapted to living completely on land, according to the University of Kentucky Entomology.

So, while you may not love the thought of these little critters rolling over your feet, they don't sting, bite or carry diseases, and there is a very real benefit to having them in your backyard garden.

It all starts with the microbes within the confines of the roly-poly's innards. These microscopic gut creatures actually help roly-poly bugs break down dead organic matter. Studies have shown the benefits of the roly-poly's detritivorous diet (meaning they absorb nutrients from decomposing plants, animals and poop) on soil. The roly-poly's particular eating habits positively affected the ecosystem by increasing the mineral content of the soil, essentially turning organic matter into healthy soil.