Sowbugs
What do sowbugs look like?
Sowbug adults are dark gray and grow to be around 1/2 of an inch long. They have a segmented body that is rounded on the top and flat on the bottom, and looks very similar to that of an armadillo. They have seven pairs of legs and two hind end appendages that look like a “tail”. The sowbug’s only form of defense when they feel threatened is to roll into a c-shaped ball.
Where are sowbugs found?
Sowbugs need to live in humid areas for survival because their bodies are not capable of retaining any moisture. Sowbugs live outside, resting during the day (to retain as much moisture as possible) in damp, dark places like under stones, plant pots, landscaping timbers, compost, mulch, leaf and grass piles, and in the spaces found at the edges of driveways and sidewalks. When there are large populations of sowbugs living near a Quad City home, they will often find their way inside through cracks and crevices in the foundation and underneath doors.
What do sowbugs eat?
Sowbugs are a type of scavenger that is environmentally beneficial because they mostly feed on decaying organic plant matter. Sowbugs may sometimes become harmful to young plants if they feed on their roots. In general, they are not damaging pests and are merely a nuisance to have living near and in your home.
DIY sowbug prevention and control tips
There are a few steps that you can take both inside and outside of your home to help stop problems with sowbugs. The first step should be to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home by fixing any leaky or dripping pipes and fixtures. Next, make sure that gutters are working properly to direct water away from the outside of your home and use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels. The next step should be to place door sweeps on all exterior doors and seal cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation. It is also a good idea to remove piles of organic matter from your property and to make sure that firewood piles are placed up off the ground and away from the outside of your house.
Professional sowbug control
Contact Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators for help getting rid of sowbugs. Our residential and commercial pest control services target a wide variety of pests common to our region including sowbugs. Reach out to us today!
