Woodlice (Porcellio scaber)
Appearance
Woodlice have oval segmented bodies and seven pairs of legs. They are grey with 10-15mm long bodies and prominent antennae. They are also commonly called sow-bugs, slaters and pill-bugs. They are easily identified by their back which is made of 7 individual plates.
Habits
- Woodlice live in moist locations.
- They are found under damp objects, rocks, plant debris and doormats.
- Woodlice eat rotting vegetable material and are mostly active at night.
- They often cluster together to conserve moisture.
- They hibernate during the winter and can live up to three years.
Threats
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.
Prevention
Woodlice can be avoided by eliminating food sources such as vegetable or debris. More often than not, when Woodlice enter a building, they frequently dry out and die.
There is usually no treatment needed but if they persist you can use an insecticidal powder or a residual spray treatment around the door thresholds and other entry points.
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