Woodlice Infestation In Home
Woodlice, also known as pill bugs or sow bugs, are small crustaceans that are commonly found outdoors in damp environments such as under rocks, leaf litter, and logs. They are harmless to humans and are not typically considered pests. However, if you are seeing a large number of woodlice in your home, it may be an indication of high humidity or moisture levels in your home.
Woodlice in House
Have you been dealing with woodlice at your home lately?
You might be relieved to hear that woodlice (also known as pill bugs in US) are a common household problem in UK. They aren’t much of a problem in summer because of the dry conditions. But they can make their way to your home in winter, autumn, and spring because of damp and moist environment. They accidentally enter your premises and start eating up your wood, wallpapers, carpets, and leaves. You will usually find them in damp areas of your house because they cannot survive in dry environment.
If you found few woodlice wandering around your home, then you probably have damp areas in your house for these little insects to survive. But don’t worry; you can easily get rid of woodlice at home.
What does a Woodlouse look like?
A woodlouse has many species in the UK. It usually looks like a small oval-shaped insect with fourteen legs. It grey or brown in colour and it measures around 15 mm. It also has numerous horizontal ridges running along its characteristic exoskeleton and a distended antenna just like a cockroach.
How they enter your house?
Woodlice need a dam environment to live. They cannot thrive in most households. Thanks to the dry living conditions inside the house. The most favourable place for them to live is under the rock or stone where temperature is low and soil is dark. Therefore, they’re usually found in outdoors or probably your garden. However, if your house has certain damp areas like moist furniture, underneath the bathtub, wet carpets etc. Therefore, if you’re spotting them frequently in your house, they might have found the perfect place for themselves in the house. You should find out the underlying cause in order to prevent their entrance inside your house.
What Causes Woodlice In Bathroom?
Woodlice are not usually a problem in the bathroom unless there is dampness or humidity, both of which they need for survival. How to stop woodlice entering your bathroom? The best way to prevent them from coming into your home is by sealing up any cracks and gaps around pipes, window frames and doorframes that may lead outside. You should also make sure that you don’t have any leaks.
How to Get Rid Of Woodlice Naturally?
Getting rid of woodlice is not a rocket-science. It’s very simple indeed. Here are few methods that would help you throw them out of your house.
1. Pick Them Up With Vacuum
Most of people tend to hit the woodlouse as soon as they spot it. We highly recommend against it as it can leave stains on your floor, carpet, or the wall. Instead, vacuum them up and throw them in the bin outside. You can also sweep them away with a dust pan.
Buy Vacuum Cleaner on Amazon.co.uk.
2. Chemical Spray – Woodlice Killer
If you have been spotting plenty of woodlice around your home, vacuuming will not be an ideal solution as they will keep coming back. In this case, you can use a chemical spray or an insect killer spray from your nearby stores or on Amazon. Here are some best woodlice killers on Amazon:
- Pest Expert Formula ‘C’ Woodlice Killer Spray 2 (Buy on Amazon.co.uk)
- CritterKill Professional Bed Bug Killer Spray (Buy on Amazon.co.uk)
- Karlsten Bed Bug Killer Spray (Buy on Amazon.co.uk)
3. Ultrasonic Repellent
You can also use an ultrasonic repellent at your home entryways to avoid the entry of woodlice along with other insects. Such repellents come with an upgraded chip that doesn’t allow woodlice and other pets to immunize. They can keep woodlouse, mouse, cockroach, spider, mosquitoes, insect, rat, rodent, flies, ant, fleas and more pests at bay. Here are some best ultrasonic repellents you can buy on Amazon:
- ZHUOFU Ultrasonic Pest Repellent (Buy on Amazon.co.uk)
- FITFORT Ultrasonic Pest Repellent (Buy on Amazon.co.uk)
4. Seal the Holes
Holes are where the woodlice enter in your room. Sealing them off will prevent them from entering your house in the future. Sealing these entryways will also force them to leave your house and find another habitat. You can use this wall repair paste to repair the cracks and holes in your walls.
How can you prevent woodlice from entering your home?
We talked about getting rid of woodlice. But the best idea is to prevent them at the first place. So, there are few things you can do to prevent them from coming inside your home:
1. Make Sure Your Home Doesn’t Have Damp Places
The first step is for you to check if you have areas in your house that may feel like home to a woodlouse. Woodlice particularly thrive in moist areas. So, check if you have rotting wood in your house. Also check underneath your bathtubs, pots, and your bathroom shelves.
2. Check Your Walls Immediately
Check for your walls if they are damp. If you spot damp walls in your home, you should immediately know that’s the ideal place for woodlice. Fix it immediately to avoid woodlice infestation.
3. Clean Your Roof Gutter Frequently
If your roof gutter isn’t draining properly, it can create an ideal spot for woodlice to thrive by creating excess moisture. You might want to keep that in check.
4. Keep Your Plants Away From Doorways
Having plants near your doors and windows can make woodlice more likely to enter your home. So, keep them away from the doorways or any other entryways to your home.
Woodlice may not have any hazardous impact on your health as they don’t spread diseases, but they can sure damage your furniture and carpets. Follow the tips above to get rid of them once and for all.
My garden is overrun with woodlice. How can I get rid of them?
Woodlice are not something you want to have in your garden. They won’t harm any of the plants, but they do carry diseases which can be transferred to people and pets through their droppings or if one is crushed by a foot. If you don’t want these little pests around anymore, read on for some suggestions about how to get rid of them.
It’s important to understand that there is no way to get rid of woodlice in your garden without making it unpleasant for them. Woodlice are not like other insects, which can be controlled with traps or by spraying something on the leaves and flowers; instead they live underground where there aren’t any plants to affect.
If you have a mulch bed, this is an ideal place for woodlice to live and reproduce because they like moist environments with plenty of organic matter for shelter. You can get rid of the ones in the mulch by stirring it up until all the eggs are destroyed and then replacing some fresh soil on top – but this only works if you have a mulch bed.
If you don’t, then the soil will need to be treated with an insecticidal dust or pellets in order to kill them off and make it unpleasant for more eggs to hatch. This is not something that can be done by hand – instead it’s best left for experts who use machinery because there are safety risks involved.
Can woodlice climb up walls?
Yes, woodlice are able to climb up walls and other vertical surfaces. They have small, bristle-like hairs on their legs that help them grip onto surfaces and move around. Woodlice are most commonly found in damp environments, so if you are seeing them on walls or other surfaces in your home, it may be an indication of high humidity or moisture levels. To get rid of woodlice, it is important to find and fix the source of the moisture problem and reduce humidity levels in your home. You can also try using a woodlice-control product or seeking the help of a professional pest control company if the problem persists.
How do I find out where woodlice is coming from?
There are a few steps you can take to try to determine the source of woodlice in your home:
- Check for any sources of moisture or high humidity. Woodlice are attracted to damp environments, so if you have a moisture problem in your home, it may be attracting woodlice. Look for leaks in plumbing, roof, or windows, or any other sources of moisture.
- Inspect the exterior of your home. Woodlice can enter your home through cracks and gaps in the foundation, walls, or around doors and windows. Look for any openings or damage that woodlice could use to get inside.
- Check for sources of food or shelter. Woodlice may be attracted to sources of food, such as compost or piles of leaves, or to areas where they can find shelter, such as under rocks or logs.
- Look for woodlice hiding places. Woodlice may be hiding in damp or humid areas of your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, or behind appliances.
If you are unable to find the source of the woodlice, or if the problem persists despite your efforts to get rid of them, you may need to seek the help of a professionals.
How do you deal with a woodlice infestation?
Here are a few steps you can take to deal with a woodlice infestation:
- Find and fix the source of the moisture problem. Woodlice are attracted to damp environments, so reducing humidity and moisture in your home will make it less attractive to them.
- Remove any debris or clutter where woodlice may be hiding, such as piles of leaves or mulch.
- Use a dehumidifier to help reduce moisture levels in your home.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any woodlice you see. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately to prevent the woodlice from escaping.
- Apply a woodlice-control product according to the label instructions. Be sure to follow all safety precautions when using any pest control product.
What do woodlice eat in the house?
Woodlice are omnivorous, which means that they can eat both plant and animal matter. Outdoors, they may feed on decaying plant material, such as leaves and wood, as well as small insects and other invertebrates. In your home, woodlice may feed on any organic material that is available, such as paper, cardboard, or damp wood. They may also feed on small insects or other invertebrates that are present in your home. Woodlice do not typically cause significant damage to homes or property, but their presence may be a nuisance. To get rid of woodlice, it is important to find and fix the source of the moisture problem and reduce humidity levels in your home. You can also try using a woodlice-control product or seeking the help of a professional.
What damage do woodlice cause?
Woodlice do not typically cause significant damage to homes or property. They do not bite or sting humans, and they do not spread diseases. However, their presence may be a nuisance, and they may cause minor damage to plants or other organic materials if they are present in large numbers. Woodlice may feed on small seedlings or young plants, and they may also damage paper, cardboard, or other organic materials if they are present in damp conditions. To prevent woodlice from causing damage, it is important to find and fix the source of the moisture problem and reduce humidity levels in your home. You can also try using a woodlice-control product or seeking the help of a professional pest control company if the problem persists.
hi, i was wandering, just some advice, do woodlice jam fridges?, i cannot open my fridge. I have tried using tweezers, screwdriver, hammer and also tying the handle of the fridge to the back of my car. The fridge itself moved down the street but the door still will not open. I would appreciate a reply, regards.