What type of food source might woodlice turn to opportunistically if preferred leaf litter is scarce or soil is dry?
Answer
Soft new plants
While woodlice are primarily detritivores, they display opportunistic feeding behaviors when their standard dietary resources become scarce or when environmental conditions, such as exceptional dryness, limit access to high-moisture decay sources. In garden settings, this leads them to consume soft new plants, seedlings, or the tender tissues of vegetable starts. They are not actively preying on living matter but rather exploiting easily accessible food sources that provide high moisture content when the steady supply of decaying wood and leaves dries up. Providing fresh vegetables like carrots or zucchini can serve as a proactive supplement to prevent this nibbling behavior.
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