Rollie pollies (also known as pill bugs or woodlice) are small, hard-shelled terrestrial crustaceans often found in yards and gardens. These gray, segmented organisms can roll into a tight ball when disturbed and are more closely related to shrimp and crabs than to insects. This article provides practical methods for eliminating current populations and implementing long-term control measures to prevent their return.
Where Rollie Pollies Live and Why They Are a Nuisance
Rollie pollies are dependent on high moisture levels because they breathe using gill-like structures and rapidly lose body water. Their preferred habitats are damp, dark locations, such as under flowerpots, rocks, boards, or within heavy accumulations of mulch or leaf litter. They are most active at night, foraging for decaying organic matter, which forms the bulk of their diet.
While these creatures serve a beneficial role as decomposers, they become pests when populations swell. Large numbers can shift from consuming dead material to damaging living, tender plant tissue. They feed on young seedlings, soft fruits resting on the ground, and vulnerable plant roots, especially when organic debris is scarce. They also become a nuisance when they migrate indoors through foundation cracks or door thresholds, seeking moisture; however, they quickly dehydrate and die inside most homes.
Physical and Non-Chemical Removal Techniques
Immediate reduction of rollie pollie populations can be achieved through non-chemical methods that exploit their need for moisture and shelter. One effective approach is using simple traps that attract them to cluster during the day. Placing a damp, rolled-up newspaper, a board, or a piece of melon rind cut-side down in the infested area will draw them in. You can then overturn the object in the morning and dispose of the collected pill bugs in a container of soapy water.
Gardeners often use hollowed-out raw potato halves, placing them cut-side down overnight as an attractive food lure. The clustered rollie pollies inside the potato can be collected and removed the following day. Another method involves applying diatomaceous earth (DE) around the perimeter of garden beds or foundation areas. This fine powder is a natural desiccant that damages the crustacean’s protective exoskeleton, leading to fatal dehydration. For indoor sightings, a simple vacuum cleaner is the most efficient method for immediate removal.
Using Chemical Control and Long-Term Exclusion
Chemical treatments are reserved for severe outdoor infestations or as a targeted perimeter defense. If a pesticide is necessary, select a product specifically labeled for use against pill bugs or general crawling insects. Insecticides containing active ingredients like pyrethrins or carbaryl are common choices. These products should be applied as a spot treatment or barrier spray along the foundation, around entry points, and into cracks and crevices where the rollie pollies hide.
The most reliable long-term strategy involves modifying the environment to make the area inhospitable to these moisture-dependent pests. This requires eliminating sources of excess moisture and removing potential shelter.
Eliminating Moisture and Shelter
Begin by repairing leaky outdoor faucets and ensuring that downspouts divert water away from the foundation. Remove or elevate potential harborage sites near the home, such as stacks of firewood, piles of leaves, or excessive layers of mulch. Reducing the depth of mulch to less than two inches can significantly decrease the available damp shelter.
Sealing Entry Points
Sealing points of entry is paramount to prevent indoor migration. Apply caulk to cracks in the foundation and ensure that all exterior doors have tight-fitting sweeps. This blocks the small gaps the crustaceans use to enter the structure.