How to Deal with Woodlice

Woodlice, also known as roly-poly bugs, woodlice, potato bugs, and pill bugs, are a particularly harmless variety of bugs that are not considered dangerous. They do not act as carriers for any disease, nor do they bite. However, in your home or garden, they can be quite annoying and pesky. There is no need to call in the exterminators, though. You can get rid of them with these simple tips.

Create an environment that is less hospitable for woodlice. It is important to note that woodlice thrive in dark and damp environments. Be sure to clean up your yard, porch, garden or any other place you may find damp, rotting debris in order to destroy their favourite breeding grounds.

Get rid of stagnant sources of water around your house. These roly-poly bugs also love to infest places that are high in moisture. As a result, stack away flower pots that have water collected in them, and fill in the puddles in the garden so as to be free of woodlice.

Cover any cracks or holes in your walls. Woodlice in your house probably mean that there are open holes or cracks in your walls, typically around pipes, doors and windows. Sprinkle talc on all the areas you suspect are entry points into your home. Talc will soak up the moisture in these places.

Seal any openings with wood fill, patching cement, caulk, duct tape or polyfill, wherever possible.

Consider investing in a dehumidifier and install fans in strategic locations to soak up the excessive moisture in your home. Excessive moisture in the environment is an open invitation to the pill bugs to come in and party.

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your house and the garden. Do not use diatomaceous earth used for pool filters; go in for the one that is specifically used for gardening. Diatomaceous earth has the ability to erode the exoskeleton of these insects, reducing their ability to absorb fluid. This will eventually cause them to die of dehydration.

Introduce animals higher up on the food chain, meaning animals that eat woodlice. These would include lizards, frogs, toads, chickens and some variety of birds. Consider this option for natural pest control, rather than using harmful insecticides.

Consider appeasing woodlice by providing them with a ready source of food, so they do not venture into your garden. Spread decomposing organic material such as leaves, garden weeds, fruit and vegetable peelings, or grass cuttings around the garden.

Treat soil infested with woodlice with spinosad. Since this repellent is organic in nature, you can get rid of the woodlice without causing harm to the plants, wildlife or soil.