How to get rid of woodlice in a house?

Description

Many people don't know that woodlice, also called pill bugs, are not insects. They are a type of crustacean very closely related to lobsters and shrimp; the difference is that woodlice prefer to live on land.

To the surprise of many, woodlice play an important role in natural ecosystems , eating decaying matter such as dead plant material, fallen or rotting fruit, and even animal excrement. They leave living plants and humans alone, which is why they are not considered pests.

Woodlice are small, but you can spot them with the naked eye. They are oval-shaped, grayish in color, and measure between 13 and 15 mm in length. Their bodies are made up of several segments of soft exoskeleton. They have seven pairs of legs and two pairs of antennae. There are several species of woodlice, but the most well-known is the common woodlouse.

Woodlice have four main life stages: egg, larva, juvenile, and adult. The egg stage is self-explanatory, but you will probably never see woodlouse eggs, as they are carried in the mother's brood pouch. The eggs hatch into larvae, which look very similar to adult woodlice but are much paler and have fewer legs. They undergo two molts, one in the larval stage and another in the juvenile stage. In total, woodlice live between two and four years .

Where to find woodlice

Woodlice thrive in damp conditions , which is why your garden is a perfect home for them. Some types of woodlice live under stones, rotting leaves, dead wood, stumps, and plants. They particularly like dark, damp places such as forests, fields, and anywhere near a water source. This is also why woodlice are attracted to basements and damp areas in our homes .

Woodlice feed on decaying matter, mold, and vegetation. Inside houses, they may feed on damp wood and mold, while in the garden, they feed on any natural decaying matter.

Woodlice are harmless to humans. They don't sting, bite, or transmit any diseases, so if you find them in your home, don't worry about your health. However, they can damage your house.

Woodlice are tiny, so an infestation isn't always easy to detect . However, there are several signs of infestation:

• Woodlice and bedbugs tend to appear in autumn, winter, and spring .
• Woodlice are less of a problem during the summer months due to dry conditions.
• You may find superficial marks on wooden objects such as furniture, as if something had eaten away at it.
• Woodlice give off a noticeable ammonia odor .
• Woodlice leave square-shaped droppings .

What kind of damage can woodlice cause?

Woodlice cause only minor damage to wooden objects —including furniture, wood floors, beams, etc. They typically congregate in dark, damp areas of homes. If you discover woodlice in the upper parts of your house, it could be a sign of a developing infestation .

They can also damage your garden, as they reproduce very easily. Large colonies can kill your plants very quickly.

Don't panic; getting rid of a woodlouse infestation is relatively easy compared to other insects. Having woodlice indicates that your home has mold, wood rot, and dampness . You should be able to eliminate the infestation by addressing these three issues.

Natural ways to control a woodlouse infestation

There are a few simple steps you can follow if you spot woodlice in your home, such as:

1. Clean your gutters regularly.
2. Identify and regularly check dark and damp areas in your home.
3. Find the cracks, necks and holes and seal them.
4. Keep your exterior drains and gutters clean by removing debris.
5. Call a plumber if you have water damage. When there are bedbugs inside your home, it's usually due to a moisture problem or a water leak.
6. Remove leaves and debris from the exterior walls of your house, especially near ventilation openings and grilles.
7. Keep your pots away from your walls, because woodlice love to live underneath them.
8. Reduce humidity in areas where you have seen woodlice.
9. Use a dehumidifier or fan to reduce basement humidity as much as possible and ensure the foundation does not have cracks.
10. Keep the humidity in your home below 60% to limit the risk of infestation.

There may come a time when the infestation is too severe for you to control on your own. In these cases, you should not attempt to resolve the problem yourself. RD provides a high-quality emergency service for fast and effective infestation control .

We offer residential , commercial , and agricultural pest control, wildlife management, and damage restoration services to ensure your peace of mind. While you may feel that an insect infestation is under control, routine professional inspections are the best way to ensure your home remains pest-free.

Professional exterminators can assess the level of woodlouse infestation and find the best solution to eliminate them quickly and safely. Don't hesitate to contact RD for all your pest control needs.