Woodlice are insects that can be considered as harmless to humans. However, they are able to cause serious damage to furniture and inside a household, especially if they are able to find damp spots. They can be easily eliminated, but as with any other insect, it is better to prevent such an infestation, than having to deal with getting rid of it. Woodlice may be found anywhere in your home, but most commonly will be found on the ground floor having entered via poor seals around doors and windows or through air vents. They can, however, live in roof voids and in damp bathrooms and toilets, as they are nocturnal insects and they shy away from the light. They also prefer moist environments, so can easily be found around the house in places such as basements or bathrooms, as they feed on decomposing matter (organic waste, fruits and vegetables), microscopic fungi, algae and bacteria.
The spaces between and beneath kitchen fixtures need special attention too. Drips and leaks can create damp spots. Not only do the drips have to be fixed but also the damp spots should be dried out completely as well. Some wood lice are harmful to plants because they feed on the roots, stems or fruit. Their number is usually higher in the spring and summer, due to humidity conditions at those time of year.
Preventive measures to avoid infestation with wood lice
- Make an effort to control the moisture level, both indoors and around the house, by improving your drainage;
- Heat your house more effectively;
- Fix leaking taps;
- Stop water from dripping through poorly fitted worktops, bathtubs, shower cabins, or sinks;
- Inspect your home to ensure that there is no accumulation of dead flies;
- It is best not to allow plant or other debris to accumulate near the house and to inspect your gutters regularly;
- Any wood introduced inside the house for the fireplace should be inspected; there may be wood lice living under the bark;
- Openings or cracks allowing access to the basement should be plugged;
- Dehumidify the rooms by airing them out or installing a dehumidifier;
- Plug gaps around doors and windows;
- Remove things like garbage bins and piles of decaying leaves and deposit them at a safe distance from the house;
- Avoid having vegetable and organic matter near the house, as wood lice thrive on it;
- Move flowerpots and flower containers away from doors and windows;
- Clean the gutters of the house and remove any blockages;
- Use sealant or caulking to fill in crack in the foundation of the house;
- Be careful not to over-water your plants and avoid leaving other water sources that might aid a humid setting;
- Keep mulch away from the garden and especially seedlings;
- Remove any rotting timber, rocks, bricks, compost, weeds, mulch or other objects that are not needed.
Generally, woodlice are considered beneficial in gardens as they produce compost and overturn the soil, but in large numbers (or infestation) and lack of food sources they are known to turn to cultivated plants. Although the woodlice diet usually consists of fallen leaves, sticks and other plant debris, in large woodlice populations attack to ripe strawberries, seedling or other fallen fruits may be exhibited. Remove vegetation from around the perimeter of the home. Woodlice thrive on vegetable and organic matter so removing any such matter from around the perimeter will help.
On some occasions woodlice may be spotted infesting homes in search of moisture, in which case their presence can indicate dampness problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible. Either way, pill bugs are not regarded as a serious household nuisance as they do not spread disease or damage wood. Nonetheless, woodlice can be a nuisance to home-owners.
However, in the garden, they are known to have a valuable role as part of a natural eco cycle of decomposition and regrowth. They provide a good source of calcium for animals higher up the food chain that eat them, for example some spiders, birds and frogs. They also have an essential role to play as decomposers.
Should you already be dealing with an infestation, follow the steps presented in our related article about ‘How to get rid of Wood Lice‘. Keep in mind that no matter what type of eradication measures you will use, be they natural or chemical, the risk of newer generations that return still remains. Without removing their habitat and food source, a new generation of woodlice will return to take over the newly vacant territory. In order to achieve permanent eradication, it is necessary to maintain dry environmental conditions. And in order to prevent such infestations from occurring, it is important to maintain and constantly apply the preventive measures listed above.
Got a question?
ASK A QUESTION