Pill bugs are small, segmented crustaceans commonly known as roly-polies or woodlice. They are not insects but are more closely related to shrimp and crabs. Pill bugs typically reside in damp, dark environments, found under rocks, logs, leaf litter, or other debris that provides consistent moisture and shelter.
What Pill Bugs Consume
Pill bugs are detritivores, meaning their primary diet consists of decaying organic matter. Their diet largely includes rotting leaves, wood, and other dead plant material. They also feed on fungi, molds, and algae present in their moist surroundings. While their main preference is for dead material, pill bugs may occasionally consume very soft, living plant tissues, such as seedlings, tender roots, or fruits touching the ground, especially when other food sources become scarce. A peculiar feeding habit is coprophagy, the consumption of their own feces, which is believed to help them reabsorb essential minerals like copper.
How Pill Bugs Hydrate
Pill bugs do not drink water in the conventional sense; instead, they absorb moisture directly from their humid environment. As terrestrial crustaceans, they possess gill-like structures called pleopods, which require constant moisture for respiration. They absorb water not only through these specialized structures but also through other parts of their bodies when in direct contact with damp surfaces or water droplets, such as dew. This unique hydration method explains their strong preference for habitats with high humidity and their inability to survive in dry conditions for more than a couple of days. Their ability to roll into a ball, known as conglobation, also helps conserve moisture by reducing the exposed surface area of their bodies, particularly their gills, when faced with drying conditions.
Pill Bugs’ Role in Ecosystems
The feeding and hydration habits of pill bugs make them important contributors to healthy ecosystems. As decomposers, they break down organic matter into simpler forms, which facilitates the recycling of nutrients, returning vital nutrients like nitrates and phosphates to the soil for plants to absorb. Their activity helps improve soil health by contributing to aeration and enriching its fertility. Pill bugs also have a unique ability to safely remove heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, from the soil by crystallizing these ions in their guts, preventing them from leaching into groundwater. Furthermore, by consuming fungi, they can play a role in regulating carbon dioxide release from decomposing matter, contributing to the balance of carbon in the soil.