Tips for Controlling Pillbugs Indoors

The presence of pillbugs indoors may mean that you have a heavy population outdoors, these insect pests venture indoors to look for food and shelter,  pillbugs do not bite nor do they spread human disease, and cause minimal crop damage. The first step to the control of pillbugs is properly managing your outdoor environment. Doing so will lessen their presence, below we will be looking at some helpful tips to discourage or reduce the pillbug population outdoors while managing them if they are seen indoors.

Managing Pillbugs Outdoors

Potted Plants: I love potted plants, these garden beauties can bring much life into a garden setting with their vibrant colors, pillbugs are attracted to potted plants in search of moisture and decaying plant matter as a food source. For example decaying vegetables, fruits, leaves, and rotting wood. Don’t allow rotting fruits and vegetables to remain on the soil surface in your garden. Keep your garden clear of decaying leaves and rotting wood. Ensure that flowerpots are off the ground on a stand or a rack because pillbugs love to hide under pots.

Mulch: Mulches in flower beds should be more than 2 inches deep, keep mulch from the foundation of your home.  A dry zone will discourage pillbugs from seeking shelter in your home. Creating a dry zone of 6-12 inches around the foundation of your home is sufficient.

Trim Trees: If you have trees near your home that are causing a shaded area, you may have to trim back the tree.  Having shade is great near a home to keep the house cool but if your pillbug infestation is great trimming back the tree from near your home will discourage their presence in your home.

Fire Wood: Reduce the hiding place of pillbugs by keeping firewood as far away from the house as possible and stacking firewood off the ground.

Increase Ventilation: Increasing ventilation in the home is so important, increase airflow by unblocking crawlspace vents, this will reduce or discourage dampness, for a basement a dehumidifier will help to reduce dampness.

Gutters: Gutters and downspouts should drain away from the foundation.

The goal is to reduce moisture around your home, once you can accomplish this will help to control pillbug populations.

Exclusion

• Another step to pillbug control is to ensure that all small openings in your home are sealed.
• Ensure that your doorstop is in good repair
• Areas where plumbing and electrical pipes enter the building should be sealed
• Make sure there is no space around door and window frames that can be an entry point for pillbugs
• Fix leaking faucets and pipes
• Any small gaps or openings in your home’s structure should be sealed.

How to Control Pillbugs with Pesticides

Pesticides, granules, baits, and sprays can be used to control pillbugs, pesticides should be the last resort however, before using pesticides read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the safest practices and the best results. Pesticides should be kept out of the reach of kids and pets.

Food-Graded Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth, or DE can be used for pest control. It consists of the fossilized remains of aquatic organisms. These tiny silica particles have razor-sharp edges that can cut through the exoskeleton of pill bugs, causing them to dehydrate and die.

• Only Purchase food-grade diatomaceous earth.
• Only apply DE in low-traffic areas where it won’t be kicked up and made airborne.
• Sprinkle food-grade DE around the base of each plant to create a lethal barrier that stops pillbugs.
• Sprinkle DE in damp places where there is pillbug activity. The DE will kill any existing pillbugs and soak up excess moisture.
• After the DE has done its job, spray it with water so it forms a mud-like consistency and won’t kick up into the air, then wipe it up.
• Outdoors apply DE when the soil and plants are dry, as moisture will wash away the powder.
• Squeeze DE powder into cracks and crevices around walkways and garden walls to control pill bugs that may be hiding.
• Apply DE directly to leaves and stems to kill pillbugs that have already reached the plants.

Control Pillbugs with Essential Oils

Pillbugs dislike the odor of essential oils, for example, tea tree, rosemary, peppermint,  oregano, citrus, citronella, and cinnamon. Spray essential oils mixed with water in areas where pillbugs were and are spotted. Caution keep these oils away from kids and pets.

Conclusion

The Control of pillbugs is made easy by following this guide, these insects are easy to control but if control measures are not taken their population will increase. If you have a pillbug infestation then give us a call so we can help you to put a plan in place that will bring pillbug control.