By Kay Rumsey

Pillbugs and sowbugs are garden critters that look somewhat like mini armadillos. Feeding on decaying materials, they can be beneficial recyclers in gardens, but sometimes they become pests when they feed on young shoots and roots, or on fruits and vegetables that lie on damp ground. Since they are so similar, for simplicity's sake "pillbugs" will be used in this article to cover both pillbugs and sowbugs.

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In the Garden

Pillbugs help out in the garden by speeding up the breakdown of dead and dying plant matter, but they often get blamed for damage simply because they are a common sight in the garden. For example, they readily feed on produce that has been damaged by disease or other pests.

Occasionally, pillbugs do feed on young shoots and roots. They may nibble on fruits or vegetables like strawberries, melons, and squash that lie directly on or near a damp soil surface. In greenhouses, large numbers of pillbugs can be problematic.

If you have identified pillbugs as the culprits, take these steps:

1.   Limit Soil Moisture

Watering early in the day allows the soil to dry by evening when pillbugs become active. Instead of using sprinklers, use drip or furrowing irrigation. Raised beds and planting boxes may also help prevent pillbug problems.

Using coarse mulch promotes drainage and can be useful under fruits and vegetables, such as melons or squash, that lie directly on the ground. Or you can protect them by elevating them off of the ground using pebbles, strawberry baskets, or overturned cans.

2.   Protect Young Plants

Ward off problems by planting seeds deeply and not watering them until they have their first true leaves. Or you can start plants indoors and then transplant seedlings in mounded soil to promote drainage.

3.   Trap and Kill

You can try collecting pillbugs when they are clustered under deliberately placed objects that serve as hiding places. During the day, overturn the object and whisk up the sowbugs and dump them into a container of soapy water. Try putting boards or large stones on damp ground around the garden. Pillbugs that hide in rolled up newspapers left around the garden can be easily shaken out into the soapy water.

Some gardeners suggest using attractive food as traps. Place halved melons or grapefruits (eaten first) on the ground with the cut side down. Raw potato halves, hollowed out a little, will also work. 

In the Home

Pillbugs sometimes make their way inside—generally in basements and on the ground floor. Pillbugs are harmless and do no damage indoors, but they can be a nuisance. They will quickly dry up and die and then they can be vacuumed or swept up.

If you have large numbers of pillbugs indoors, here are some tips:

1.   Reduce Moisture

Fix leaks and improve ventilation to reduce moisture. Dehumidifiers and fans can help dry out damp basements.

2.   Prevent Entry

Prevent entry by caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors as well as sealing cracks in the foundation and other openings on walls. Install a door sweep that makes good contact with the bottom of the door.

3.   Clean Up Outdoors

If indoor pillbug populations are still problematic, consider reducing populations around the house. Reduce moisture by directing water away from the house. Trim or prune plants around the house so that there is plenty of air circulation. Remove hiding places near the foundation such as boards, piles of leaves and grass, and other debris. Pillbugs also like to hide in mulch, so you need to weigh the benefit of mulch against the problem of sowbug invasion.

If you found this helpful, view our other resources on Managing Pests and Weeds.

More About Pillbugs

Biology and Habits

Pillbugs and sowbugs have brown to dark gray elongated oval bodies up to 3/4 inch long and seven pairs of legs. Sowbugs have two small tail-like appendages at the rear while the very similar pillbugs, often called roly-polies, can curl up into a ball when threatened. Pillbugs and sowbugs are also called potato bugs or woodlice.

Pillbugs are crustaceans related to water dwelling crayfish and shrimp. Although they live on land, pillbugs breathe through gills and must have moisture to survive. They are mostly active at night when humidity levels are higher and temperatures are lower. During the day they hide in damp places under rocks, boards, piles of leaves or grass clippings, mulch, debris, or in cracks and crevices, sometimes clustering together to reduce water loss. They become inactive in cold weather.

Females incubate seven to 200 eggs in a brood pouch on the underside of their bodies. After hatching, miniature white pillbugs continue to develop inside the pouch for six to eight weeks. Upon emerging from the pouch, the young pillbugs—smaller paler versions of adults—are on their own.

For expert advice on to your pest or weed issues, check out our Pest and Weed Management Consultation services.

References

1. Donahue JD, Brewer MJ. University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service. Sowbugs and pillbugs, B-1050.2 [Internet]. University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service; 1998. Available from: https://wyoextension.org/parkcounty/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sowbugs-and-Pillbugs.pdf
2. Boggs J. What lies beneath [Internet]. Buckeye yard and garden online. The Ohio State University; 2018. Available from: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1177
3. Robson M. Sowbugs benefit garden but keep food out of reach [Internet]. King County Cooperative Extension, Washington State University; 1995. Available from: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950716&slug=2131590
4. University of California. Sowbugs and pillbugs [Internet]. Agriculture and Natural Resources, Statewide IPM Program; 2008. Available from: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/PESTS/sowbugs.html
5. Bechinski EJ, Merickel FW. Homeowner guide to pillbugs and sowbugs, CIS 1169 [Internet]. University of Idaho Extension; 2009. Available from: https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/CIS/CIS1169.pdf