Sow Bugs

sowbug

Sow bugs are basically crustaceans that have segmented body plates, 7 pairs of legs, and they can curl up into a ball when irritated or touched. Sow bugs are a pest only and do not inflict illness, bite or get into food or storage goods. Conditions that contribute to their spread include moisture and typically dark, concealed areas in basements and crawling spaces. In order to monitor sow bugs, it is important to remember that the moisture and humidity levels are decreased as the dryer temperatures make it much more difficult for them to thrive.

These pests do little damage, besides living in the soil of houseplants, and do not cause harm indoors. Sowbugs are merely an annoyance in general, since they do not bite or sting and are harmless to human beings. Their presence within commonly implies a significant outside population.

Sow Bugs Infestation

Sowbugs feed on organic material and thrive in moist habitats, usually coming into homes through ground-level doors and windows. The pests may also make their way into garages or damp basements through structural cracks in homes. Sowbugs are not able to retain water in their bodies, so they spend most of their time in damp places. 

Mulch, leaves, and other plants draw sowbugs to yards and homes, and several times homeowners can find rodents in the mulch around the foundations, trees, and in the gardens where they feed on decomposing organic matter present in their environment. Since certain places of the home are too dry, the pests normally die indoors. Sowbugs eat organic debris and decaying plants, so it is common to find them under mulch in flowerbeds. To conserve moisture, they are usually active at night.

How to Get Rid of Sow Bugs?

The only way to avoid sowbugs is to remove their hiding spots, they can flee or die if there are no moist areas to live in. To better deter rodents, there are many things that homeowners can do:

  • Bring the firewood away from the floor and move it away from the door. Shift logs, boards and rocks that may be used as hiding places for sowbugs. Moving piles of dead leaves and clippings of grass. To ensure that they drain away from the base, inspect the downspouts.
  • Pull the flowerbed mulch away from the base. Build a zone that is clean of mulch and leaves beside the house. The region should have a range of 15 to 30 cm. Sowbugs and other rodents may be prevented from nesting. If they establish a damp, shade area near the base, it may be appropriate to cut the branches of trees or shrubs.
  • Ensure that the outside doors lock securely. Fix any missing or broken weather stripping and door sweeps. Be sure that at the crawl space entry there is a door to keep sowbugs out. To make sure they are available to allow ventilation, check the crawlspace vents. People living in brick homes often insert small plastic filtering squares into weeping holes to prevent sowbugs from entering the house.
  • Waterproofing on basement walls may help remove dampness. Check with the home store experts to see what items they are suggesting. A dehumidifier can sometimes help decrease the dampness in a basement.

Our technician from Benlux is qualified to assist with the care of sowbugs and related pests. Because any building or home is different, a special software for your case would be built by your Orkin technician. Benlux Hygiene will have the correct approach for holding sowbugs in place, out of your home or business.