Thanks to all the rain, I have received many questions about pill bugs (also known as sow bugs or rolly pollies) invading yards, gardens and homes. Pill bugs are not actually bugs or insects-they are crustaceans. Therefore they are more closely related to crabs, shrimp and lobsters than beetles and butterflies!

Pill bugs usually do not cause major harm to gardens, although when the population is high, they can be detrimental and chew the leaves of the plants.

Pill bugs love moist areas, thus the invasion San Antonio is experiencing. Right now there is very little you can do to control pill bugs. Once the rain stops, allow mulch beds and gardens to dry out and pill bugs will move out. You may notice after watering, pill bugs will crawl up the side of the house to get out of the water. This means you are over saturating already saturated soil and the pill bugs are trying not to drown!

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is often recommended for pill bugs, however DE is ineffective when exposed to moisture--and pill bugs are mainly found in wet areas.

Pill bugs are usually situational pests and seldom need to be treated. However, if they are unbearable use liquid or granular insecticides containing permethrin, or bifenthrin. When the area to be treated is dry, dusts containing pyrethrin, permethrin or carbaryl may also provide some relief.

For more information please contact Molly Keck with Texas Cooperative Extension, at 210/467-6575 or email mekeck@ag.tamu.edu.

Molly Keck
Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist.
3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212
210/467-6575
mekeck@ag.tamu.edu