Question : My side of my house is being infested by “rolly-pollies.” Is there anything you can do to stop them from coming into my house? Answer: Sowbugs or pillbugs (rolly pollies) are not actually insects. They are related to crayfish. There is a slight difference between sowbugs and pillbugs: sowbugs cannot roll up into a ball when disturbed, and pillbugs can.
- They both live and breed in moist, decaying organic material and are usually found in areas around the perimeter of houses.
- A favorite location is under the bottom logs of the woodpile, under potted plants, or in wet mulch.
- These animals usually remain outside, but may come inside when their habitat become too wet or even too dry.
They enter under doors and around ground-level windows. They don’t reproduce in houses or basements because it is too dry and there is no food there for them. They are usually found dead just inside the door they have entered. This is often the case when the habitat is very dry, and they can not find a protected and humid harborage.
- My guess is that your house has something favorable for them (thick mulch, leaves, moisture) If you reduce these, there should be fewer rolly pollies.
- Stack firewood up on a rack and move it away from the house.
- Rake mulch and dead leaves away from the foundation.
- Check exterior doors to be sure they close tightly.
Replace any missing weather-stripping. Make sure down spouts drain away from the foundation.
Why do I keep seeing potato bugs?
Step 3 – Inspect your gutters on the outside of your home. If they aren’t working properly, excessive moisture will accumulate near your home, attracting potato bugs. If your gutters aren’t working properly, call a gutter company to repair them.
Where are potato bugs most common?
Where is the Jerusalem Cricket (Potato Bug) Found? – Potato bugs inhabit areas in the western United States and Mexico. You may not see these unsightly bugs very often as they tend to live underground and usually come out at night. If you live in areas where Jerusalem crickets are found, you may discover some in your flower beds, under leaves or stones, or in and around compost heaps.
Can a potato bug hurt you?
Are Potato Bugs Poisonous? – Potato bugs are not poisonous. However, these pests have toxin-rich saliva that can damage plants. For humans, without any toxin glands, potato bugs can not be considered harmful. Sometimes though a bite from a potato bug ( Jerusalem Cricket ) can be painful.
How do you keep sow bugs out of your house?
Controlling Sow Bugs Sow bug / Pill Bug control specialists – The presence of sow bugs or pill bugs in the living quarters of a home is an indication high moisture conditions. This condition will also contribute to a number of other problems including mildew, wood rot and a good breeding environment for other insects.
Reduce moisture or humidity level indoors. Use bathroom fans, stove hood vent fans, vent clothes dryers outside. Crawl spaces and attics need to be well ventilated. Remove excess vegetation and debris around exterior perimeter of the home. Make sure that leaf debris (leaves hold moisture and hide the bugs) is cleaned up from around the outside of your house. Keep rain gutters and downspouts clean and in good repair. Instead of chemicals, use a caulking gun to close any cracks or crevices at or near ground level. Houses built on a concrete slab poured directly on the ground, can have more of a problem with sow bugs or pill bugs if there is no moisture barrier under the concrete. Built-in planters are usually a bad idea for many reasons. Window box planters and planter boxes on decks tight against the house are good breeding places for many bugs. Make sure all your doors (ground level, to the outside) are weather-stripped. If your garage is attached or integral with the house, make sure those doors are properly weather-stripped also. Watch for obvious moisture problems in the garage and bottom level. Keep soil levels well below structural wood around the home.
A perimeter pesticide spray may help break the cycle for a short time but will not eliminate the problem permanently. Remember, if you don’t solve the moisture problem, the bugs will return no matter what chemicals you use, or how much you use them.
How big do potato bugs get?
what does a potato bug bite look like? – Potato bugs are around two inches long with black and orange banded bodies that look like engorged wasps. They have a red, human like heads and antennas that look like long pieces of thread. The creep factor is not helped when the potato bug’s massive head and small black eyes that look childlike.
What do potato bugs like?
What Foods do Potato Bugs Eat? – 
Potato bugs eat a large variety of foods including tubers (potatoes), roots, fruit, and even other bugs. Manfred Ruckszio/Shutterstock.com Yes, potato bugs actually ate so many potato leaves over time that it negatively impacted potato farming in Colorado. Of course, they eat more than just potato leaves; they just are known for that harmful tendency. A list of things potato bugs eat include: 
Tubers (potatoes)EggplantsLeavesPeppersTomatoesSmall insectsFemales even eat their own young
Is a pill bug the same as a potato bug?
Have a Bug Problem? Call (800) 468-7859 Pill Bug Facts
Scientific Name: Armadillilium vulgare Nicknames: Wood louse or roly-poly bug, as they are known for this ability to roll into a ball. They are also often called potato bugs. Location: Pill bugs are common invertebrates that are found in many biomes around the world, including temperate forests, rainforests, and grasslands. Size: Pill bugs are less than an inch long
Pill Bug Appearance and Behavior The pill bug is a small, segmented land creature that is covered by a hard exoskeleton shell that looks like armor. They have three basic body parts; the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Pill bugs have 7 pairs of jointed legs and 2 pairs of antennae – but one pair is barely visible.
- The antennae, mouth and eyes are located on the head.
- Many animals eat pill bugs and the main protection for the pill bug is rolling into a tiny armored ball, earning them the nickname “roly-poly.” The pill bug is not an insect but is an isopod.
- They are more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than to insects and are the only crustacean that has adapted to living their entire life on land.
They prefer moist areas, often living in soil and under decaying leaves, rocks, and dead logs. Pill bugs mostly eat decaying vegetable material like vegetables.
Can a potato bug hurt you?
Are Potato Bugs Poisonous? – Potato bugs are not poisonous. However, these pests have toxin-rich saliva that can damage plants. For humans, without any toxin glands, potato bugs can not be considered harmful. Sometimes though a bite from a potato bug ( Jerusalem Cricket ) can be painful.
Where do Rolly Pollies come from?
Where do pill bugs live? – Pill bugs need moisture to survive. They thrive in decaying plant and vegetable matter. You will often find them under damp leaf piles, in wet garden soil, under decaying logs, and in landscaping mulch. They are outdoor pests but can occasionally make it into homes.
How do Jerusalem crickets get in the house?
How did I get Jerusalem crickets? Jerusalem crickets can accidentally wander inside homes. These insects usually find their way into houses at night while looking for shelter or to prey on insects. Gardens with fruits or vegetables may also attract them.