SOW BUGS AND PILL BUGS

Sowbugs are land crustaceans which look very similar to pillbugs, at least at first glance. Sowbugs are
small crustaceans with oval bodies when viewed from above. Their back consists of a number of
overlapping, articulating plates. They have 7 pairs of legs, and antennae which reach about half the body
length. Most are slate gray in color, and may reach about 15 mm long and 8 mm wide.
The pillbug on the other hand has a rounder back,

from side to side, and a deeper body, from back to legs. When disturbed, it frequently rolls into a tight
ball, with its legs tucked inside, much like its larger but dissimilar counterpart the armadillo.

Sowbugs have gills which need constant moisture, so they tend to live in moister northwest
climates. They are primarily nocturnal, and eat decaying leaf litter and vegetable matter. They
may also feed on the tips of young plants, so can be considered pests, but they also help the
environment by breaking up decaying plant matter and help speed up the recycling of the
nutrients they contain.

Controlling Sow Bugs Sow bug / Pill Bug control specialists

The presence of sow bugs or pill bugs in the living quarters of a home is an indication high moisture
conditions. This condition will also contribute to a number of other problems including mildew, wood rot
and a good breeding environment for other insects.
• Reduce moisture or humidity level indoors. Use bathroom fans, stove hood vent fans, vent clothes
dryers outside. Crawl spaces and attics need to be well ventilated.
• Remove excess vegetation and debris around exterior perimeter of the home. Make sure that leaf
debris (leaves hold moisture and hide the bugs) is cleaned up from around the outside of your
house. Keep rain gutters and downspouts clean and in good repair.
• Instead of chemicals, use a caulking gun to close any cracks or crevices at or near ground
level. Houses built on a concrete slab poured directly on the ground, can have more of a problem
with sow bugs or pill bugs if there is no moisture barrier under the concrete.
• Built-in planters are usually a bad idea for many reasons. Window box planters and planter boxes
on decks tight against the house are good breeding places for many bugs.
• Make sure all your doors (ground level, to the outside) are weather-stripped. If your garage is
attached or integral with the house, make sure those doors are properly weather-stripped also.
• Watch for obvious moisture problems in the garage and bottom level.
• Keep soil levels well below structural wood around the home.
A perimeter pesticide spray may help break the cycle for a short time but will not eliminate the problem
permanently. Remember, if you don’t solve the moisture problem, the bugs will return no matter what
chemicals you use, or how much you use them.

MORE INFORMATION
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Oval body, convex above and flat or hollow beneath.
Pale brown to dull blue in colour.
Can grow up to 19mm in length.
Head and abdomen are small.
Head has eyes and prominent segmented antennae.
Thorax is comparatively large and is composed of 7 hard individual but overlapping plates.
7 pairs of legs.
Mostly active at night.
2 prominent tail-like appendages (processes) from abdomen.
Become inactive during winter months because of temperature.
Depend on moisture to keep oxygen-absorbing gills under their bodies moist.
Life Cycle
Female gives birth to numerous, live young and carries her young in a pouch (marsupium) on the
underside of the body. The brood is carries for an average of 44 days. Usually 2 new generations are
produced per year depending on environmental conditions with an average of 28 young in brood. New
generation are white in colour. 1st moult within 24 hours (7th pair of legs appear after 1st moult). 2nd
moult during 2nd week. 3rd moult during 3rd week. 4th instar moults every 2 weeks until the animal is
20 weeks old. After 20 weeks, periods between moults are irregular.
Habitat
Prefer moist locations and are found under objects on damp ground or under vegetable debris. Have been known
to bury themselves under several centimeters of soil. Can at times invade damp basements, fern houses and first
floors of houses indicating large number present outside the house nearby.
Food
Feed on decaying vegetable matter.
Pest Status
In rare instances can become pests of young plants (especially in fern houses where climatic conditions are ideal).
The slater does not bite and is harmless. In unusual climatic conditions (extreme wet), they can invade houses in
large numbers creating concern for occupants. Their presence though is short-lived because these animals die from
desiccation. Neither adults nor young are considered pests.
Control
Habitat and food requirement leaves wide variety of areas to inhabit in gardens etc. Because of this need they
cannot survive away from its ideal environment thus it will not breed or survive for long indoors. A high degree of
moisture is required for survival.

Talk to a local pest control professional about your sow bug problem.

SOW BUGS AND PILL BUGS IN THE GARDEN

Are They A Pest?
These bugs play a vital roll in composting organic matter in the garden and compost bins. They can be more
effective making soil than earthworms.
Sowbugs and pillbugs get blamed for more damage to garden plants than they actually do. They are deemed guilty
as they are often found feeding in decaying or damaged garden produce, after diseases, slugs and other pests have
inflict the initial damage. They are great opportunists.
Most annoyingly, sowbugs and pillbugs feed on tender seedlings, young roots, flowers and fruits and vegetables
laying directly on damp soil. Most active at night, sowbugs hide in dark, moist protected areas during the day, such
as under flowerpots, decaying leaves on the soil surface, boards, mulches and ground cover. They thrive under
sprinkler irrigation.

HOW TO DISCOURAGE SOW BUGS IN THE GARDEN

> Limit moist, dark hiding places. Clean up organic debris, boards, boxes and piles of leaves around the yard and
garden.
> Water early in the day so plants and the soil surface dries out by the evening when sow or pill bugs are active.
> Mulch with coarse materials, so water passes through to the soil quickly.
> Elevate fruits and vegetables off the ground with old strawberry baskets or pebbles. Black plastic mulches are
good because they get too hot in the summer to provide desirable shelter for sow bugs.
> Plant seeds deeply and do not water until seedlings have their first true leaves. Or start seedlings indoors. Then to
maintain good drainage, transplant seedlings into the garden so that the soil around seedlings is higher than
surrounding garden soil.
> A non toxic method for sow bug control is to place a rolled up newspaper tube on the soil surface. Leave it
overnight. In the morning, shake out the tubes into a pail of soapy water.
Another less toxic method to control sow bugs is to sprinkle diatomaceous earth directly on the
row where seeds have been planted to dry the soil surface enough to discourage sow bugs.
Experiment with the amount of diatomaceous earth, as too thin a layer will not be effective and
too thick a layer can become like plaster if it becomes wet.
VARIOUS SPECIES OF SOW AND PILL BUGS ARE COMMON AROUND THE WORLD
BUT THEY HAVE MANY DIFFERENT NAMES.
Besides living in the soil of houseplants, these pests cause little damage and do not cause harm indoors. In
general, sowbugs are simply a nuisance, as they do not bite or sting and are harmless to humans. Their
presence inside usually indicates a large population outside.
Sowbugs and pillbugs can sometimes enter damp areas of your house in large numbers. However,
they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, and they don't infest food, clothing, or wood.
To get rid of roly poly bugs reduce the habitat favored by these pests by eliminating garden debris, leaf piles,
fallen fruit and weeds from all growing areas. Use mulches that are coarse enough to let water pass through
easily so the surface next to plants will not remain damp for long.
Usually if you're seeing sow bugs or pill bugs within your home, it means your garden or yard outside is ripe
with the perfect food and habitat for these pests and they have just accidentally wandered indoors. It also
could mean that there is too much decomposing material close to your home.
The main difference is that pillbugs can roll themselves up into a protective ball when threatened, like an
armadillo; sowbugs cannot. Sowbugs have a pair of short tail-like structures on the end of their
bodies; pillbugs do not.
Sowbugs are omnivores and feed on both decaying plants and animals. These crustaceans also feed on the
outer skin of fallen vegetables and fruits. Additionally, sowbugs eat the roots and stems of some garden
plants.

How long do sow bugs live?

about 2 years
Pillbugs generally hide when they shed their skin because they are especially vulnerable to enemies
at this time. The average life span of most isopods is about 2 years, but some have lived as long as
5 years.
Why do I keep finding pill bugs in my house?
The presence of these pests in the house usually points to an outdoor infestation, as large
populations may move indoors looking for alternative food and shelter. Yards with excessive
moisture and debris often harbor pill bugs. ... Residents frequently find the pests in damp
basements or first-floor bathrooms.
What kills pill bugs?
Dforce will kill pill bugs quickly since it's both a contact killer and a flushing agent, it will chase them
out of hidden spaces. Pillbugs can become a problem in and around the home. Though they don't
cause damage, they can be a pest. Use Talstar Granules and D-Fense outside the home to kill off
local infestations.