Rolly pollies are scientifically known as oniscidae or cochineal, a subgroup of isopods. These crustaceans can live in toxic places other critters can not. Lobsters, shrimp, and other anaerobic bottom feeders are crustaceans that eat things at the bottom of the food chain and facilitate organic matter break down to speed decomposition and return nutrients to elemental forms, helping to grow ecosystems.

Like magic, rolly pollies are aerobic decomposers who help soil by rendering heavy metals inert. Mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic in soil and groundwater are crystallized in their guts which then turn into spherical deposits in their midguts. These deposits leave heavy metals bound in a form that is not immediately bioavailable to plants!

Chocolate is becoming known as one food product often exceeds California and EU standards for heavy metals. These metals are taken up from soil into the cacao or cocoa pods and seeds that chocolate is made from.

Perhaps Save the Bees, Clean the Seas, and Plant Trees could include Rolly Pollies?