Sowbugs and Pillbugs
Sowbugs and pillbugs are crustaceans. They are wingless, oval
shaped, about 1/2" long and slate gray in color. They have body
segments that resemble armored plates. Sowbugs have 2 tail-like
appendages, 7 pairs of legs and well-developed eyes. They are not
capable of rolling into a tight ball. Pillbugs, or "rolly-pollies",
lack the tail-like appendages and can roll into a tight ball.
Both sowbugs and pillbugs feed primarily on decaying
organic matter although they may occasionally damage roots of plants.
Their normal habitat is outdoors, but they do occasionally wander
indoors where they do no damage.
The habits and biology of both pests is similar. Both
animals are slow moving, crawling arthropods. They require high
moisture and are most active at night. When resting during the day they
may be found under trash, rocks, boards, decaying vegetation, or just
beneath the soil surface. A heavy infestation indoors usually indicates
a large population outdoors. Mulches, grass clippings and leaf litter
often provide the decaying organic matter they need to survive.
The female carries the eggs in a brood pouch on the
underside of her body. There may be up to 200 eggs per brood. Eggs
hatch in 3 - 7 weeks and the young remain in the pouch for another 6 -
7 weeks. Once they leave the pouch, the young never return. Females may
produce 1 - 2 brood per year. Individual sowbugs or pillbugs may live
up to 3 years.
Allgood Pest Solutions provides Pest Control and Termite Control
for Georgia including Atlanta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Roswell,
Duluth, Suwanee, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Dalton, Macon, Dublin,
Sandersville, Vidalia, Douglas, Savannah, McRae, Milledgeville,
Swainsboro, Brunswick, St. Mary's.
For more information about the pests that Allgood Pest Solutions can control at your home, please click on the following links: