Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is one of the safest things you can use on creatures with carapaces (beetles, fleas, etc). DE is a naturally occurring chalklike rock, consisting of fossilized diatoms. It is usually composed of 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron. No part of it is toxic, and it even has low levels of beneficial trace minerals. Farmers feed it to their livestock, as they say it cuts down on the worm load and reduces flies/maggots. Some people eat it, too, for the same reasons. The only negative aspects of it: 1) It isn't good for your lungs if you whip it into a cloud of dust, then stick your head into it and inhale deeply, since most stuff that goes into your lungs will stay in your lungs. The DE from saltwater diatoms is apparently more dangerous than DE from freshwater sources (the container often tells which it is). 2) It only works on insects when it is dry. One of the best things about it is, since it is not the chemical action of it that kills the bugs, but the PHYSICAL action, bugs can't build up a tolerance to it like they can chemicals. Seen under a microscope, DE looks like very sharp shards of broken glass. These shards work under the carapace of beetle-type insects and dehydrates them. It doesn't harm bees or earthworms. Your pets and small children can eat it. But it kills things like fleas and cockroaches. TIP: Always buy the kind that says CODEX FOOD GRADE on the label. Some kinds have undesirable chemicals added when used for other purposes. The stuff is usually very cheap, esp if you buy it at the local farm store in a large bag. Call around first, only one place near me carries it. p.s. on the pillbugs: they really don't chew on plants directly. When you see them nibbling on the edge of a chewed area, some other creature usually did the big damage, and the pillbugs are 'tidying up' the decomposing raw edges of the wound. They often take the blame for damage done by earwigs and other creatures of the dark. Sue

These do eat plants when their numbers are high. They do. There should be no debating this. If anyone doesn't believe it, they haven't had an infestation of pill bugs and don't really have the experience to help someone regarding. I cannot grow legume or peas without killing these bugs in the area or they will take down every one of the healthy seedlings. I drench the soil in the area with liquid spinosad. Once the plant is established, it's good. I gotta eat, too. I read somewhere that pill bugs remove metals and is likely to remove some toxins in the soil. I'm still trying to figure why I have so many and what purpose they are serving beyond the normal "eat decaying matter".

Pill bugs are usually harmless and are considered by many to be beneficial. They help in the break down of organic matter. Problems may arise when they start munching on seedlings. Protect seedlings with a little diatomaceous earth or a bit of drinking straw split and wrapped around the stems. Removing plant debris to discourage the sow bugs is all that most gardens will require. Because of the valuable contribution they make to the decomposition process in vegetable matter means that unless they are a direct threat to seedlings or crops, they should be left alone. You can also effectively trap pill bugs using a half of a cantaloupe that's placed upside down where pill bugs are a problem.

Pillbugs / rolly pollys decimated my peas and tender sprouts for two years. Contrary to the naysayers, it WAS pillbugs because I caught them in the act every night and early morning. I tried diatomaceous earth (they crawled right through it), cardboard rings around sprouts (they dug under them), rolled up wet newspaper (didn’t catch enough), oil/soy sauce/beer/you-name-it traps (didn’t catch enough). I honestly considered giving up planting the tender stuff. After two years of failure, in year 3, I have organically won the battle with the pillbugs in my garden!! I am so elated I’m posting this on every pillbug garden thread I can find! This battle takes commitment. I recommend prepping your garden beds, and a week before setting out plants, go to war. (Or plant your seeds and immediately go to war!) Wet down the soil and about every 2 feet, place pieces of citrus peel (grapefruit or orange), or you can just cut up the fruit. Wait until it’s been dark a few hours. Bring a bucket of soapy water and a headlamp or flashlight with you. CAREFULLY pick up each piece of peel and shake it over the bucket. Tap it to make sure all bugs fall off. The tiny ones really dig in and hang on! There will also be many that stayed in the dirt where the fruit was. Quickly scoop them up and dump them in the bucket too. The first night I did this, I filled my bucket to a 1/2” deep of bugs! Just left them there overnight until they were dead, and dumped everything back in the dirt away from the garden. I kept this up every night for a week, and now just check about once a week. I rarely find large ones anymore, just the teeny tiny ones. I have raised beds and the bugs hide along the edges during the day. I keep pieces of peel around the inside edges and if they are going to eat, they choose the fruit over the sprouts. You’ll need to replace the peels when they begin to dry out. Pillbugs are communal. I noticed pencil eraser sized holes around the edges against the wood. After digging, dozens big and small came out of the spot. If you notice these holes, place peel near them and the bugs won’t wander so far to eat (and potentially happen upon your plants). My peas and lettuces are growing beautifully and barely a nibble has been taken out of them! Lastly, I’ve read of many people that hand pick and throw the pillbugs into the compost heap. I would NEVER do this! It’s basically giving them a buffet to breed in. When you add that compost to your garden, you’re inadvertently adding these pests back in. Happy growing!