Rolly Polly Bugs
Summary: Someone writes that she is having a problem with rolly polly bugs, also known as pill bugs or sow bugs. Her house was treated, but the rolly pollies continue to invade the house.
Melissa; Bel Air, Maryland asks:
I called an exterminator in December who sprayed inside and outside after seeing rolly-polly bugs crawling up my foundation and into my house in the family room near the fireplace. Since then, I haven't seen any crawling up the foundation, but they are still coming in. My exterminator said they are the ones left behind the walls and it will take time for them to come out.
Well, it has been really cold so they are coming out of the walls in that same area. I have no leaks. Do you think I need to spray behind the walls? My exterminator says no and also said it's impossible for them to multiply because it's not moist enough. What should I do? I have counted 25 dead already. Will they ever stop coming in?
Melissa:
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Rolly polly bugs, also known as pill bugs and sow bugs, are in the house initially due to the presence of decaying matter associated with moisture. When outside, these tiny creatures gravitate towards the sides of structures where moisture tends to accumulate in places where the ground slopes back towards the house or under spots where gutters fail to capture rainwater as it comes off a roof.
The pest control materials that were "sprayed" would have lasted about sixty days on the exterior under the best conditions. Rain, sunlight and a host of other environmental factors quickly break down the residual carrier that gives these pesticides their staying power. Same goes for an interior treatment, although the lasting power is a bit longer inside.
As temperatures turn cold, pill bugs try to find shelter. That shelter is often the interior of a house via cracks under doors and windows and breaks in foundation walls. However, these tiny crustaceans actually have gills and need
 Moisture meter |
moisture to survive. They are most likely coming out of the wall in a last effort to find water. If there are pill bugs, there is moisture. A simpl moisture meter will give you the answer you are looking for.
If you absolutely insist that you need a treatment you might want to consider having the wall treated with insecticide dust to set up a barrier. Small holes would have to be drilled into the wall between each stud and dust pumped into the wall voids. The small holes can be plugged, but the wallpaper will never again look the same.
So, it is up to you. The pill bugs do no harm and they will probably be gone in the spring. To treat or not to treat. That is the question. (My apologies to Mr. Shakespeare.)
Comments
11 Jul 2009, 11:46
18 Jul 2009, 10:25
24 Jul 2009, 21:45
28 Jul 2009, 15:37
29 Jul 2009, 19:43
At first I thought it was fleas but the vet said definitely no(I showed him the actual specimen); he said it looked like a centipede or miliped type creature.
The vet did say my indoor cat might have had fleas once as she had some flea dirt on her forehead. He checked her for fleas thoroughly and saw none.He still place Frontline on her and I did the same to the other cat.
The vet said and I did, the following: put flea power in vacuum and vacuum entire apt and dirt corners and baseboards with flea pwder, dust or spray couches with flea powder and vacuum, thoroughly clean cat litter area, wash all laundry and bedding in hot water (I did it twice) and put in hot dryer for min hour. I removed all rugs from my apartment as well as extra pillows (as I found a dead pill bug or 2 under one that had fallen under my bed).
Something to note: My neighbor had bedbugs 3 weeks ago and my management had it treated with a commercial grade bed bug exterminator (we have those in NY). My neighbor had bites and was itchy and I am not. I inspected my mattress which is covered with a bed bug cover from the day I moved her and saw nothing.
I did buy 2 antique paintings recently at an auction. Maybe the pill bugs came from the frame? I have not hung them yet. I did spray them last night with flea spray. It was all I had.
1. Is there anything else I can do?
2. Should I buy a small dehumidifier? My apt is 650 sq feet.
3. In this weather, do I keep the windows open or closed with air on?
16 Aug 2009, 16:14
RPPS
Rolly Poly Preservation Society
President
Donald Duck
(this is a true story and shouldnt be deleted.. I want to inspire love for these creatures)
23 Aug 2009, 19:58
12 Sep 2009, 20:35
21 Sep 2009, 13:02
28 Sep 2009, 08:22
05 Oct 2009, 23:30
05 Oct 2009, 23:33
thank u so much
shannon e
15 Oct 2009, 23:21
Could they come from the soil? I recently (2 months ago) purchased some plants for around my front door area.
Thanks for any help!
14 Jan 2010, 23:35
I love that there are those of you that want to study Pill bugs.
To find them look under rocks, wood, etc that are part submerged in the soil near moister like a hose or in the shade under porch steps, tree and so on.
To keep them put in any type of aquarium with soil/dirt throw some grass, leaves and such if you want BUT the most important thing you need is a good size piece of bark or natural rotting wood. submerge the bark or wood in water over night and set in aquarium submerged a bit in the soil add Pill bugs, at least 5 of them so that in about 3 wks you will see hundreds of little whitish baby pill bugs crawling on the bark Very exciting for the kids!! Not so much for mom.
Care for pill bugs is easy using a spray bottle mist the aquarium and bark every couple days and feed them fish flakes and throw in some vegetation now and then.
15 Feb 2010, 16:48
11 Mar 2010, 09:44