Roly Poly Population Control Trap

To be clear this trap does not harm the occupants, just collects them for relocation… or whichever path you choose. 

 

I created this trap to curb the pill bug population explosion happening in my garden at the moment. While roly polys are normally beneficial and well behaved garden residents, when there numbers reach biblical plague proportions they start chomping on more than just decomposing plant matter! 

 

The goal was simple: design a luxurious, and enticing hidey-hole irresistible to pill bugs. A dark, cozy Airbnb they’d rate five stars, but conveniently can’t leave once checked in. 

 

Surprisingly, I've found bait doesn't make a huge difference. Bait or no bait, guests show up anyway. Placement, however, has shown itself to be key! I've achieved top-tier pill bug hospitality ratings by positioning traps along garden bed edges and corners, basically anywhere cool, damp, and mildly creepy. If unsure, just stalk—I mean observe—the roly-poly population to discover where "it's happening'." They'll lead you straight to prime real estate. The trap lid sits low, creating exactly the kind of hole-in-the-wall vibe pill bugs rave about.

 

The trap consists of four components: The housing, the trap body, the trap lid, and an optional housing cap. The housing is meant to be buried flush with your garden soil and includes a drainage hole to avoid unintended puddles. The trap body slides conveniently in and out, sparing you from repeated excavation missions, and features a discrete drainage slot to keep roly-poly guests comfortably dry. Lastly, there's an optional cap that's handy for keeping dirt and debris out while installing or when the trap itself decides to take a day off.

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