orionsbelt7@aol.com

hi everyone-
does anyone have a problem with pill bugs (roly polies) chewing on the roots of there musas? everywinter they are in my musa zebrina pots seeming to damage the roots. any info would be appreciated. thanks-David

BGreen

Hello,

Pill bugs normally eat dead and decaying organic material. While they will eat living plant material, it has to be very soft. I am wondering if you are having problems with the roots starting to rot and then the pill bugs starting to eat the softened roots.

You can make a pill bug trap by placing a cantaloupe half upside down in the pot and remove them. The other method of trapping them is using a potato. Drill a hole 1/2" to 3/4" down the length of the potato, do most of the way. If you drill all the way through you can just plug one end back up. Place the potato in the pot if you can bury it horizontal part way so the hole is dirt level and bury the rest with leaves. In several days check the trap. You can tap the bugs out replace the trap to catch more.
And here I thought catching bugs for frog food wouldn't help

Hope this helps,

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Take care,

BGreen