Rolly Pollie Bug Farm

Calling all backyard explorers! Here is a fun project to banish boredom.

Do this project outside or you will have a mess to clean up!

Rolly Pollies

Rolly Pollies are tiny, cute insects that are sure to be found in any backyard. Want a closer look at them? Build this Rolly Pollie Bug Farm to check out these amusing creatures!

How to build a Rolly Pollie Bug Farm

Items needed:

A plastic container, sides should be at least three inches high
Two cups of dirt
A medium-sized, flat rock
A chunk or two of fruit or vegetables (the cores and tops will work)
A bottle cap
The corner of a paper towel, at least one inch in length
A few sticks or pieces of wood
A handfull of grass
Plastic wrap
A pencil
A spraybottle or paintbrush
Water

Step One

Carefully pour all of the dirt into the plastic container.

Rolly Pollies will dig tunnels in the dirt.

Step Two

If you have a spraybottle, fill it with water. Set the spraybottle to "fine mist" and wet the dirt inside of the container (three to four sprays)

If you have a paintbrush, dip the brush head into water and shake it over the dirt in the container. Do not overdo it!

Rolly Pollies enjoy damp habitats, and the damp soil will make tunnel-digging an easier job.

Step Three

Place the rock along one side of the container. Push the rock down about halfway into the dirt.

Rolly Pollies like to hide under objects: it makes them feel safe.

Step Four

Take your chunk/s of fruit or vegetables and put them in the dirt wherever you would like. Press their bottom ends a little into the dirt.

Rolly Pollies eat fresh fruits and vegetables, so make sure to replace the food every day!

Step Five

Place the bottle cap, open side up, in the center of the dirt. Wet the paper towel corner and then squeeze it to remove the extra water. Place the paper towel corner in the bottle cap and put some of your grass on top of it.

Rolly Pollies love damp places and might explore through the grass!

Step Six

Lay the sticks in the dirt, but do not stand them up.

Rolly Pollies like to chew on wood chunks, but if a chunk is standing up it could fall on them and hurt them.

Step Seven

Sprinkle the rest of the grass all around your habitat.

Rolly Pollies like the shade but also like to walk on grass. They will walk under or on the grass to get from place to place.

Step Eight

Repeat Step Two to moisten the habitat.

Step Nine

Populate your habitat! Here is where it gets really messy.

Rolly Pollies can be found in the mud under rocks or wood. Pick them up carefully - don't squish them! - and place them in your habitat.

Rolly Pollies curl up in a ball when touched, so don't be concerned if one of them refuses to uncurl. Place it in a safe spot in your habitat and it will uncurl when it feels like it.

Make sure to not put in too many Rolly Pollies!

Step Ten

Get an adult's help for this step!

Cover the habitat with plastic wrap and poke holes in it with a pencil or poke holes in the lid of your container with a pair of scissors.

Do not make your holes too big or your Rolly Pollies will escape!

Rolly Pollies need to breathe! Do not cover your habitat with a lid or you bugs will die. If you do not put a lid on, your bugs will escape!

Finished Product!

Final Instructions

Make sure to replace the fruit/vegetables every day or you will get mold.
Keep the habitat moist by using your spraybottle or paintbrush to wet it every day.
If you keep your habitat outside, put it in a place that it will not be rained on.
Don't be worried if you can't see your Rolly Pollies! Many of them probably dug into the dirt or are hiding under objects. Do not dig in the dirt to find the bugs (this will collapse their tunnels!), instead lift up the rock, bottle cap, and food to see if there are any Rolly Pollies underneath. Put the objects back carefully so you don't squish your bugs!

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