Woodlice are insects, that got their name from where they were found. They can be often found in old decayed wood, and evolved from an aquatic environment to land. The marine isopods are the first carboniferous that have had their colonies in the land since the cretaceous period. These woodlice are commonly known as terrestrial isopods and have their structure of segmented dorso-ventrally flattened body with seven pairs of joint legs. They have specialized appendages for respiration and carry their fertilized eggs in marsupium where they can provide the developing embryos with water, oxygen, and nutrients.
Are Woodlice Harmful?
Woodlice are not harmful to human health, and while they can be beneficial to your garden, seeing masses of them in your home can indicate a serious damp problem that needs to be resolved.
Why you Should avoid Woodlice
Though woodlice are not harmful and not responsible for anything dangerous, they will enter your home in search of moisture. They can stick to carpets, skirting boards, and other shining properties. They leave a stain on the carpets if they are crushed. While they can be beneficial to your garden they have been known to feed on cultivated plants and tender seedlings.
What do Woodlice Eat?
Woodlice love to feed on dead plants and fungi, and they can also eat compost materials. Woodlice eat paper and wallpaper, so it is important to remove decomposed plants in your home to prevent woodlice infestation.
How to Get rid of Woodlice
If you find woodlice in your home and you cannot eliminate them, you can try out these simple DIY methods to get rid of woodlice.
- Vacuum them Up
Vacuuming is the first step to eliminating the woodlice presented in your home. After the process, it is important to empty the vacuum bag as soon as the process is completed.
- Anti-Insect Spray
You can buy several pest control sprays in shops, make use of them if you find any woodlice in your home. Some of them are more toxic, so make sure your children and pets are away from the treated area before using the spray.
- Seal up the Holes
Seal all the cracks and gaps found in your home. Holes are the entry point for any of the insects to enter your home. Sealing all the holes will help you to avoid the presence of woodlice and other insects.
How to Prevent Woodlouse Infestations
Above are some of the simple tricks to get rid of woodlice, it is also important to prevent your home from infestation after eliminating them. It is possible that infestation may occur again. So here are a few steps to follow to help prevent woodlice infestation.
- Avoid Making Your Home Inviting to Woodlice
Woodlice love to stay and feed on decayed products, so check all the places which are the best for them to stay. Try to avoid decomposed plants and rotten wood which will eliminate the way to enter your home.
- Check for Dampness
Damp walls can attract woodlice, and this explains why only a particular place is infested by woodlice. Try to repair the walls which are damped as soon as possible.
- Avoid Planting Next to the Walls of Your Home
Plants can attract woodlice easily so, keep plants away from your living area. If you have plants near doors and windows, or weeds near doors the chance of getting woodlice increases.
- Clean Out Your Gutters
Many people will miss out on their roof gutters, it is important to check your if your roof gutter is draining correctly. If not, the roof gutter will store moisture and it can attract woodlice easily.