What Do Pillbugs Look Like?
Pillbugs are tiny terrestrial crustaceans with segmented, armored bodies. These gray bugs look like miniature armadillos and have many legs jutting from their underbellies. The other name for pillbugs is roly-polies, given to them for how they roll into a ball to shield their vulnerable underbellies.
Pillbugs look similar to sowbugs, and homeowners often confuse one for the other. Sowbugs and pillbugs are closely related, with both being woodlice. However, there are a couple of ways to tell the difference. First off, sowbugs have a pair of rear appendages, whereas pillbugs do not. Moreover, sowbugs don't share the pillbug's ability to curl up into a ball and are not as fat and round as pillbugs.
If you still have difficulty telling the difference between sowbugs and pillbugs, it's best to get aid from professionals. An infestation of either critter can be a nightmare.
Where Did Pillbugs In My Home Come From?
If you have pillbugs actually inside your home, chances are you have a large breeding pillbug population outside your house. Pillbug behavior usually dictates that they stay outside. These little rolling bugs like to infest moist, warm places like rotten logs, beneath rocks on the ground, and leaf piles. They don’t have as much reason to come into your home as other pests do, such as rats or cockroaches. However, if something appealing is attracting them into your house, or some adversity outside is driving them towards your property, pillbugs will invite themselves into your home.
What Attracts Pillbugs To My Home?
Pillbugs eat microorganisms and organic material in decaying forest litter, like rotting logs and plant debris. A yard full of these things will attract pillbugs onto your property. Pillbugs, however, will likely stay outside, entering your home only after something really good entices them.
For instance, drought or heat waves can create dry enough conditions that will drive thirsty pillbugs into your home. Pillbugs may also come in if you have the food they like inside your house, such as leaf litter piling up against basement doors or a garage full of mud. Understanding pillbug behavior is vital for creating effective pest control plans to deal with them. Here are a couple of changes you can make to keep pillbugs uninterested in your home:
- Seal off potential entry points in your home’s foundation, such as cracks or holes.
- Make sure doors and windows fit well and have weather stripping installed on them.
- Use dehumidifiers in basements and crawlspaces to reduce moisture that could attract pillbugs.
- Get rid of potential pillbug food sources like rotting logs or leaf litter around your home.
When Should I Call A Professional?
Although pillbugs probably won’t ever be your top pest control priority, they can still be irritating to deal with. If you’ve got a house full of them, the best pest control in Reno is a call away. Here at Natura Pest Control, we use safe and effective treatment methods that address the core of your pest problems. Moreover, our treatments are eco-friendly and pose no risks to any pets you may own. Give us a call or visit our contact page to get started!