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PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:05 am 
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Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 10:06 am
Posts: 51
Location: Keller, TX
I have a significant rolly-polly population and I started wondering if this is a good or a bad thing. I checked the web, which identified them as a pill bug (they'll always be rolly pollys to me), but all of the articles were sort of ambivolent as to whether or not they were a pest.

They apparently eat decaying plants, but they also have been known to take a bite of seedlings. This is both good and bad, no?

So my question is, should I be concerned with these? They seem to be concentrated away from my garden, so I've left them alone for the time being. Do they only take a bite of of plants when they can't find enough to eat otherwise, or do they have a preference?

On an aside note, I found a huge slug where a lot of the pollys were hanging out. I was about to kill it, when my #3 child talked me out of it because he felt sympathy for it after seeing Jabba the Hutt. I know I'll regret this when I see that slug eating entire branches off of my trees.

Thanks for any insight on these critters,
Chris


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:06 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:19 pm
Posts: 75
Location: Dallas, TX
I was curious about this as well (and to me, they will always be "doodle bugs". My son calls them ladybugs, but just about anything that is a bug is a lady bug to him :)

I have TONS of them in my compost. I thought they were beneficial, but that was just an assumption on my part. I'd sure like to know before I use more compost in the yard (I'm going to have to get a finer sifter if they aren't good, though....)


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:19 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 20, 2003 4:33 pm
Posts: 526
Location: parker county, texas
Pill bugs will eat seedlings of some plants, and I have had problems with them for the past couple of years. It seems the more mulch and compost you have, the more pill bugs go along with it. I have read that DE will help control them, so I am trying it this year, and also using physical barriers to keep them off young seedlings. So far so good.


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 Post subject: Doodle bugs
PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:03 am 
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Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:46 am
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Location: grand prairie
That is how I have always know them. I have a vast population of them at the front and back doors of my house. They frequently invade the house at night.

What is DE? I would like to at least control them.

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All good things which exist are the fruits of originality...John Stuart Mill


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:21 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 4:52 pm
Posts: 147
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
"DE" is "diatomaceous earth" - a powdered mineral that has a lot of uses..swimming pool filters for one...but it is also a highly effective organic pest deterrent...bugs or slugs that walk or slither across it will slither out and die..it is a deterrent and a killer at the same time.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:31 am 
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Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:12 pm
Posts: 111
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
Be very careful, there are TWO types of DE or rather processes used for DE. Do NOT use the Swimming Pool variety of DE it has been processed, and is some cases chemicals added. get the Horticultural or "natural" type. This has not been processed, the edges on the shells are still sharp and it will not harm your kids, dogs, cats, horses, etc.... DE is actuall the shells/exoskeletons of tiny diatoms. the edges are extremely sharp, but small. as insects like pill bugs travel across it their exoskeletons are cut and they eventually dry out and die. this stuff is good (to get rid of) for all insects. The really great thing is you can put this stuff in your food and not be harmed. In fact some people do add it to their animal feed. DE Will get rid of the pill bugs, it is a great way to keep those newly sprouted plants protected.


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 3:15 pm 
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Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
They're your foe in among flowering plants but your friend (BIG time) in the compost pile and on your dog's poop.

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