Table of Contents
Sowbugs may not be as unnerving and hated as cockroaches, but these critters have no place in your home. Let’s go over everything you need to know about sowbugs, including how to get rid of them and keep them out of your home for good.
Sowbugs are a broad group of crawling pests which belong to the same family as rollie pollies or pill bugs. They are decomposers, meaning they primarily eat dead plants or animal matter, and this makes them great cleaners of the wild. Sowbugs can also eat living plants, which can make them a nuisance to the plants in your home or garden. They are also commonly known as woodlice, though they are not lice, but a completely different branch of insect.
Sowbugs are technically crustaceans, like crabs, crayfish, and barnacles. They belong to the only group of crustaceans that live on land, shared with pill bugs. Although they live on land, they require plenty of moisture to survive and will avoid dry places.
Sowbugs are medium-sized insects that reach up to a half-inch in length. Their bodies are dark gray, and they have two short, jointed antennae, plus two smaller antennae underneath. Sowbugs have seven pairs of short legs, and their backs are covered in ten overlapping plates that offer protection while keeping the body flexible.
Although Sowbugs are closely related to pillbugs, they have one key difference: sowbugs do not roll up into a ball for protection. Another, more subtle difference is two short tail-like growths at the back of the body, which pillbugs lack.
Sowbugs will live anywhere with enough moisture to keep them alive. Outdoors, they will usually live in dark places with lots of dead matter, such as in old fallen trees or under a mulch layer. Indoors, they’ll often inhabit basements, sunrooms, greenhouses, crawlspaces, enclosures, etc. Because of their fondness for decaying food, they are particularly common in woodpiles or compost heaps, hence the common name of woodlice.
Because these insects have such flat bodies, they can easily enter your home through door thresholds, window gaps, and other small entrances. If you see lots of sowbugs in your home, it could mean that a large population is breeding close to the foundation of your home. In general, sowbugs pose little threat or issue. They cause little damage and do not sting, bite, or spread diseases. When overpopulated, however, they can be an annoying and disheartening indoor pest.
Image via flickr by benet2006
Although sowbugs are not a common or problematic pest, they can become an annoyance if they appear in your home. However, if they are becoming a frequent visitor, it is usually the sign of a significant outdoor habitat nearby. First, check to see whether any sources of decaying material, such as woodpiles or compost heaps, could be moved farther away from your home’s foundation. Apart from that, other sowbug control options include:
In the more extreme cases, where you aren’t sure what has invited so many sowbugs into your home, chemical, or other professional pest control options might be more effective. Every home and pest issue is unique, so don’t listen to pest controllers who don’t ask questions before offering treatment. The experts at Bulwark can diagnose and solve your problem with sowbugs and leave you 100% satisfied, guaranteed.
Sowbugs are so old that they are believed to have originated in the ocean as an entirely marine species, later transitioning to land in the Carboniferous period, between 360 million and 300 million years ago. There are still some sowbugs that live exclusively in marine environments. Their breadth of species, survivability, and age makes them a frequent topic of scientific study.
The female sowbug may produce several broods per year, each with a batch of 25 eggs. Each female has an organ called a marsupium, an underbelly pouch that lets them provide water, nutrients, and oxygen to the developing eggs before they hatch.
Sowbugs are a valuable part of the outdoor circle of life, breaking down old and dead materials to support new plant growth. That said, you don’t have to accept these tiny creatures where they don’t belong. Contact us today directly or from our home assessment form and tell us your story.
Every home and every pest problem is unique. We will create a plan that meets your needs. Don’t stress over the details. Your Bulwark Pest Pro will help verify everything in your initial call.
*Restrictions apply. Contact us for details.