Woodlice thrive in moist conditions, so they don’t usually survive long inside thanks to our tendency to maintain a dry, warm indoor environment. If they do seem to be taking root in your home, it could be indicative of an underlying damp problem.
What kills Woodlice in a home?
Chemical Control
Active ingredients effective against woodlice include carbaryl, metaldehyde or iron phosphate and spinosad, according to the University of Iowa Extension.
How do you get rid of Woodlice bugs?
Woodlice will usually die quickly indoors because there isn’t enough moisture for them to survive. In the summer, when humidity levels rise, your best weapon is a dehumidifier with a built-in electronic hygrometer/humidistat. Set the dehumidifier to keep the relative humidity below 60%. Move the unit around if need be.
Should you kill Woodlice?
No treatment is necessary but if they persist put right any dampness, remove infested vegetation and use an insecticidal powder or long-lasting spray around door-thresholds or other points of entry. Amateur use products are available from your local garden centre or hardware store.
Why would you have Woodlice in your house? – Related Questions
Do woodlice cause damage in the house?
It can be argued their presence in the garden is probably more beneficial than harmful. However a woodlice infestation indoors can cause significant damage to wooden objects including furniture, wooden floors and more.
What damage do woodlice cause?
Woodlice do not usually damage healthy plants, they can however become associated with damage which has other causes such as slug damage or plants that have died and begun to rot. Woodlice occasionally damage very soft plant tissues, such as seedlings and sometimes strawberry fruits.
Are woodlice important?
About. These hardy minibeasts can be found sheltering under rocks in the garden or hiding in compost heaps, where they avoid drying out in hot weather. Common woodlice are important for their ability to feed off dead plants and creatures, recycling vital nutrients.
Are woodlice OK?
Woodlice are beneficial to the composting process and indicate that the material is breaking down into compost. Generally, the woodlouse feed on decaying vegetable matter. They are not considered a problem.
Can woodlice harm you?
They are not a risk to human health. Woodlice do not harm people or damage buildings but can still be a nuisance. Woodlice can be controlled by a number of methods, you can prevent them coming into you property by sealing entry points with draught excluders around windows and doors.
Do woodlice spread disease?
Woodlice do not carry diseases or invade food products. They basically are scavengers of decomposing organic matter but are reputed to be a nuisance pest if they occur indoors.
Do woodlice go in beds?
No one wants these little critters near their food or even worse, their beds. But it’s actually fairly common for woodlice to make their way into your home, especially in the summer.
How do you know if you have a woodlice infestation?
Woodlice have a smooth and shiny skeleton having segmented legs looks like hairy layers on a yellow color. Woodlice prefer to live in the dark places of your house. If you doubt woodlice infestation, then search for woodlice in dark and damp areas. Woodlice will get a feed from decaying leaves and wooden parts.
What chemical kills woodlice?
Insecticide sprays are one of the most common method for controlling woodlice. Most woodlice killer insecticides contain strong active ingredients such as Permethrin, Tetramethrin or Cypermethrin to a control woodlice infestation.
Can woodlice live in walls?
Woodlice thrive on vegetable and organic matter so removing any such matter from around the perimeter will help. Re-point walls if there are gaps in the pointing as woodlice are well known for living in old garden walls.
Can woodlice live in cavity walls?
Woodlice favour damp conditions and feed off decaying vegetable matter, dead insects, fungi etc. They do not cause structural damage. The infestation always originates from outside, Woodlice wander in usually at night, they are excellent climbers & will often come into houses via the chimney or through cavity walls.
What diseases do woodlice carry?
Are they dangerous? Many people find woodlice unpleasant. However, they do not spread disease and their presence does not constitute any risk to health.
What do woodlice indicate?
Woodlice have to live in damp places to survive. When large numbers of woodlice are seen indoors it may mean that there is a problem with high levels of moisture in the room due to condensation or dampness.