When Rolly Pollies, also known as pill bugs or woodlice, begin appearing indoors or damaging garden plants, they quickly become a nuisance that homeowners seek to eliminate. These terrestrial crustaceans are constantly searching for moisture and decaying matter, which can lead them to congregate in unwanted numbers around foundations and inside damp basements. While they are generally beneficial in the outdoor environment, a population explosion or migration indoors signals a need for effective control.
Understanding the Rolly Polly’s Role
Rolly pollies are not insects but are actually isopods, making them the only group of crustaceans that have adapted to live their entire lives on land. They possess gill-like structures, which necessitates a consistently high-moisture environment for survival; they will quickly desiccate and die without it. Their diet consists primarily of dead and decaying organic matter, such as fallen leaves, rotting wood, and other detritus.
In the garden ecosystem, these organisms function as important decomposers, helping to break down organic material and recycle nutrients back into the soil. They also play a role in soil health, with some studies suggesting they can even remove heavy metals like lead and cadmium from the ground. However, when their populations become too large, they may turn their attention to tender plant tissue, damaging delicate seedlings, soft fruits, and roots.
Environmental Control and Exclusion
The most sustainable method for managing roly polly populations is to modify the environment, making it less hospitable to them. Since they require high humidity to breathe, reducing moisture is the most effective preventative strategy. This involves ensuring proper drainage around the home’s foundation and immediately fixing any leaky pipes, faucets, or condensation issues in crawl spaces and basements.
Outdoor landscaping also contributes significantly to their habitat, and alterations can disrupt their breeding and hiding spots. Heavy, water-retaining organic mulches should be replaced with drier alternatives, or at least pulled back to create a six- to twelve-inch “dry zone” immediately adjacent to the foundation. Removing piles of leaf litter, grass clippings, and rotting wood from near the house eliminates their primary food source and shelter. Trimming back dense vegetation that traps moisture against the exterior walls also helps to dry out the area.
To prevent indoor entry, sealing all potential access points is a necessary step in exclusion. Small cracks and gaps in the foundation, especially those near the soil line, should be sealed with caulk or mortar. Utility openings around pipes and wires must also be addressed to close off entryways into the structure. Installing tight-fitting door sweeps and weather stripping on all exterior doors will block the most common ground-level access routes.
Targeted Removal Techniques
When environmental control is not sufficient to manage a large population, direct removal methods can be employed to reduce their numbers. Simple, non-chemical traps exploit the organism’s attraction to moisture and decaying vegetation. A scooped-out potato half, a piece of cantaloupe rind, or a roll of damp, crumpled newspaper placed in an infested area overnight can serve as a highly effective lure. The roly pollies will congregate inside the trap, allowing for easy collection and disposal the following morning.
For immediate removal of individuals found indoors, a vacuum cleaner can quickly collect the pests, after which they can be released outdoors or discarded. If chemical control becomes necessary, diatomaceous earth (DE) is a common, non-toxic option that kills by physical means. This fine powder is composed of fossilized algae shells that scratch the crustacean’s protective cuticle, leading to fatal dehydration. Commercial granular baits or dusts containing ingredients like boric acid or certain insecticides are also available for targeted outdoor use. These products are often applied as a perimeter treatment around the foundation to intercept the pests. When using any chemical solution, follow all label instructions carefully and place baits in areas inaccessible to pets and children.