What pest is doing this?

[abrogard]

Trying to grow some herbs. From seed.
First to come up were the Sage.
Going alright and then this morning I find destruction has been wrought.
One seedling cut off at the base.
Others chopped to bits.
I wonder what does this and why?
I mean is it birds just pecking for play or something?
Or a pest that lives in the soil, cuts them down now and pulls them into it's burrow later?
Or what?
And what do do about it?
I've just brought them into the potting area and up on the bench for today. Will sprinkle some slug and snail pellets but I don't think it's them is it?
Here's some pics:

 

[Chuck]

It looks a lot like cutworm damage. For some reason they cut a plant off at the base and then sometimes proceed to cut off the leaves as well. I have never seen a cutworm actually eat anything it has cut down. If you dig down 2 or 3 inches I'll bet you will find him.

 

[YumYum]

Hard to tell from the shadows but that sort of looks like a cutworm laying there:

 

[MiTmite9]

Trying to grow some herbs. From seed.
First to come up were the Sage.
Going alright and then this morning I find destruction has been wrought.
One seedling cut off at the base.
Others chopped to bits.
I wonder what does this and why?
I mean is it birds just pecking for play or something?
Or a pest that lives in the soil, cuts them down now and pulls them into it's burrow later?
Or what?
And what do do about it?
I've just brought them into the potting area and up on the bench for today. Will sprinkle some slug and snail pellets but I don't think it's them is it?
Here's some pics:

Please do not use slug/snail pellets. They are bad for pets, children, birds, etc.

 

[Rye]

It could possibly be isopods, or "rolly-pollies." I used to think of them as relatively innocuous, primarily feeding on dead matter, however that is not the case from my own experience.