I don't think so. They are detritus feeders, I think they would only go after them if they were already damaged and beginning to rot. Perhaps if the sowbugs were desperate for moisture during drought conditions.

Sowbugs can be a serious problem in some locations. The fact that they like potatoes is reflected in one of their many common names....potato bug. But they will also eat young seedlings, and ripe fruit...even when not rotting.

Macgregor, there is a pill/sowbug bait on the market that is labeled for organic gardens. I think that it's called Sluggo Plus. The active ingredient, other than the iron phosphate for the slugs and snails, is Spinosad.

Mostly people who seem to have trouble with sowbugs are out in California. If I were to guess what they were doing under the potato plant it would be that they were helping clean up the rotting piece of seed potato from which the plant sprouted. You likely only found two baby potatoes because you pulled the plant way too soon. Just flowering is generally a sign that the first potatoes are beginning to form. When the vine dies back, then the potatoes are ready to harvest.

Do Sowbugs Destroy Potatoes?

No, not IME. In soils that are low in organic matter they may go after vegetative growth but it would take a really severe infestation of them to do much damage to planted potatoes.

Suggest you research the many other possibles causes for your results.

Dave