Roly Polies

• Roly polies are a dry-land crustacean, which makes them highly uncommon. Roly polies have a harder outer shell that protects a soft underside. They are usually gray or brown in color and are often less than 1 inch long. They are slightly flat in appearance and can roll into a ball when they feel threatened, using their protective outer shell as a defense.
  
  

Feeding

• Roly polies are omnivorous and scavengers. They will feed on dead, dying or decaying plant and animal material. They thrive in conditions where there is significant amounts of decomposing organic material, such as leaf mulch and compost. In some cases, they are may eat live plants, but they are only able to eat very tender shoots. To protect young tomato plants from roly poly damage, start the seedlings indoors, and only transplant your tomato plants once they have reached 6 inches in height or more.
  
  

Habitat

• Preferring damp and moist climates, roly polies can be found living in areas with high humidity levels. Roly polies can often be found in leaf litter or mulch, under rocks or logs and, on occasion, in crevices between rocks. Species of roly polies range from being daytime to nocturnal. Roly polies also often live in compost, as the decomposing organic material is their preferred habitat. Roly polies will digest decomposing material into smaller pieces, adding important organic matter to the soil or compost.
  
  

Cultural Controls

• Roly polies prefer humid and moist climates with much decomposing or decaying organic material for them to feed on. To prevent excess roly poly infestations, clear away plant debris from your garden beds before planting your tomato seedlings. This will help to discourage roly polies from staying in the garden area. Transplanting your seedlings when they are older will also help discourage any feeding from roly polies, as they are only able to eat very young plants.