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pill woodlouse

Woodlice Control

The good thing about woodlice is that they are not harmful to humans. Nor do they cause a lot of damage to property. Young plants are sometimes damaged by woodlice, but that's about it. The bad thing about woodlice of course, is that they look really creepy, so it's not nice to have them as an unwelcome guest in your home.

Conditions That Attract Woodlice

If you do have woodlice in your home, it could be an indication that you have a problem with damp. Woodlice like moist conditions, although sometimes they will come inside to escape heavy rain or the colder weather during did you know
The blood of woodlice is blue (although this is cannot be seen except with special equipment).
autumn and winter. The good news in that case is that as long as your home is warm and dry, they will not last very long. Although if they get to the bathroom they will probably last longer. If you have a severe woodlouse infestation however, then this is a pretty clear indication that you have a problem with damp in your home.

Usually woodlice are found outside, where they are almost completely harmless. They tend to take shelter beneath damp leaves, in rotten wood or in a pile of decomposing garden waste. If you are looking for woodlice, then you should find them pretty much anywhere that is dark and damp. When they are inside this often translates to behind skirting boards. They tend to only come out at night.picture of a woodlice infestation

Woodlouse Biology

One of the best ways to describe woodlice is as miniature armadillo. In fact the official name of one of the most common types of woodlouse, the pill woodlouse, is Armadillidium. The most common form is called the Oniscus, or Common Woodlouse. What unites them is that they have fourteen legs and a stiff, segmented, rounded exoskeleton which is much like a shell. This exoskeleton they shed every now and then, which is why occasionally they seem to be two different colours. The female woodlouse keeps eggs in a pouch underneath her body, which she holds until they hatch. Baby woodlice are white.

Woodlice Control

One of the easiest and safest woodlice control methods is simply to sweep them up and put them outsidid you know
When infected with Wolbachia bacteria, male woodlice can become female!
de again, where they came from. Of course if you have a severe infestation of woodlice, this will be indicative of an underlying problem and it would be best to contact a pest control expert to give you advice on what to do. As already mentioned, woodlice are only able to survive in damp conditions, so if you have an ongoing problem then you will have to attend to an issue with damp. Alternatively, pesticides can be sprayed on areas affected by woodlice. A better woodlice control technique, however, is to use powder. They might be protected from spray by their exoskeleton, however the powder they will have to walk through, making it a more effective treatment for woodlice.

Summary

Although woodlice aren't the nicest to look at, they don't cause harm to people or property. If the woodlouse infestation is severe, the greater problem will actually be the damp which is creating it. However, you should contact pest control professionals for advice on the best woodlice control techniques in that situation. Otherwise, if there's only a few, you can simply sweep them up and place them back outside.

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Following COVID-19 Government Guidance
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