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. You can learn more about pill bug control products and purchase them here.
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. A better product to apply along exterior walls would be a granular insecticide.
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 simple 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
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
30 Mar 2010, 14:35
05 Apr 2010, 20:31
19 Apr 2010, 22:39
13 May 2010, 15:37
11 Jun 2010, 19:54
At first it didn’t seem like it was helping since I would still discover a roach or two occasionally. So I also bought the roach bait and placed it round the kitchen and bathrooms. Over time I saw fewer and fewer roaches and now it’s been several months since I’ve seen one. So glad there gone!! Even though I haven’t seen a roach in months I decided it would be a good idea to replace the bait as prescribed and spray the entire house again since the spray is only supposed to last 1 years. Well now I have new unwanted guest – rolly pollys. They started to arrive shortly after I sprayed. (Is this a coincidence?) Most of them dead when I find them on the floor, where the wall and carpet meet. A few are still alive traveling on the carpet. Not sure where they are headed because I vacuum them up before they get to their destination.
What should I do? I live in Austin, TX where it’s hot and humid. I didn’t have this problem last year. :o(
22 Aug 2010, 20:18
Will the bugs do any harm to things like clothes, books, papers, dishes?
I'm concerned about using any kind of granular insecticide since I have 2 dogs and I worry that they might accidentally eat it.
Can you help?
22 Aug 2010, 22:19