Pill bugs, recognized by their ability to roll into a protective ball, are common garden invertebrates also known as roly-polies. Despite their widespread presence, their diet is often misunderstood. This article explores their dietary habits and clarifies whether sugar plays a role.
The True Diet of Pill Bugs
Pill bugs primarily function as detritivores, consuming dead and decaying organic materials. Their diet consists of rotting leaves, decomposing wood, and other dead plant matter. They also feed on fungi, algae, and moss. These crustaceans break down organic waste, returning nutrients to the soil.
Under certain conditions, pill bugs might also consume living plants, including seedlings, roots, and fruits in contact with the soil. They have also been observed eating dead animal flesh, shed snakeskin, and their own feces to reabsorb copper. Their varied diet helps them thrive in moist, dark environments where organic material is abundant.
Do Pill Bugs Eat Sugar?
Pill bugs generally do not seek out or consume refined sugar as a primary food source. Their digestive systems are adapted to process complex organic compounds like cellulose, found in decaying plant material. While decaying fruits or plant matter may contain natural sugars, pill bugs are typically attracted to the decomposition process itself, along with moisture and microbial growth, rather than the sugar content.
Laboratory observations have explored pill bug responses to sugar. Some studies indicated a preference for sweet options or sugar water when fed a sugar-rich diet. However, other research found they preferred neutral food over sweet. This suggests pure sugar is not a typical or preferred component of their natural diet, and their attraction to it can be variable or influenced by prior exposure.
Why Pill Bugs Might Be Found Near Sweet Things
Observations of pill bugs near sugary items, such as spilled juice or rotting fruit, often lead to the mistaken belief that they enjoy sugar. Their presence is usually attributed to other factors aligning with their natural habitat preferences.
Sweet items, particularly rotting fruit, provide the damp, dark conditions pill bugs require for survival. The decaying nature of these items, even if sweet, offers the organic matter pill bugs consume. Fermenting fruits present both moisture and decomposing material, which are strong attractants for these detritivores. If pill bugs are seen around sugary substances, it is likely due to moisture, shelter, or decaying material, rather than a specific craving for sugar.