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Reader's Questions - Pillbugs |
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Question: Is there a good
plant to put in the garden that will repel roly poly bugs (pill bugs)?
I have a terrible problem with them this year, but they seem to have attacked
mostly the string beans.
Answer: To answer this question, it helps to understand the nature of pill bugs. These are actually useful scavengers in the garden that feed on mostly decaying matter, although they will feed on young seedlings if there is any sign of decay, or in stems of plants that have been damaged by their bigger neighbors, such as slugs. As such, are you sure the damage is being caused by pill bugs? It could be that there are other culprits that are doing the initial damage, probably at night when you can't see them, and that the opportunistic pill bug finds this damage and subsequently has himself a little pill bug feast. What you see is this banquet going on, and you immediately think the pill bug is the one who is doing it all. But that's probably not the case. Knowing that pill bugs thrive on decaying material and that they like a warm, moist, dark place, and since they can be beneficial, you really don't want to wipe out the whole population, which can be done with a strong poison such as Diazinon, but which is absolutely not recommended. Your best bet if they are bothering certain plants is probably to give them the dark moisture and decaying material that they need, away from your valuable plants. The most earth-friendly fix I have found is to get a couple of grapefruits, cut in half and scoop out the contents, then place the rind upside down near where the problem is. As the pill bugs prefer decaying matter, darkness, and moisture, the beans whether damaged or not will likely be abandoned for this easier and more homey abode. It probably won't hurt to pull back any mulch around the affected plants too, as mulch is the perfect home for pill bugs. With the combination of a new home made out of decaying material, and a longer walk to get to your plants, you will likely solve the problem of the pill bugs. If the damage continues after that, you need to start looking at what else is out there in the dead of night (a flashlight and some late night sleuthing is all it takes).
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