Sowbugs
Isopoda
General Information
- Sowbugs are slow moving and are most active at night
- One type of sowbug is often referred to as a “Pill bug” (however, not all sowbugs curl up into a ball when disturbed)
Size
6.35 to 12.7 millimetres long
Colour
Grey
Commonly mistaken for
Additional details
- Sowbugs frequent areas with lots of moisture (under trash, rocks, boards, decay, or just beneath the soil surface)
- Mulches, grass clippings, and leaf litter often provide the decaying organic matter they love to eat and hide in
- The sowbug’s normal habitat is outdoors, but they occasionally wander inside looking for moisture or a better place to hide
- They’ll typically invade damp basements or crawl spaces and may infest potted plants
- Sowbugs will not damage the home or transmit disease so they are mostly viewed as a nuisance
- Some species may feed on cultivated plants and tender seedlings
- Keep compost piles and decaying vegetation away from the house
- Caulk and seal windows and exterior doors to keep sowbugs from entering
- If you notice sowbugs in your basement, try running a dehumidifier to make the area less humid, and therefore less appealing
Related products
Raid Max® Home Insect Killer kills a variety of household insects on contact including ants, fleas, centipedes and bed bugs.