How to Get Rid of Pill Bugs

My sons love to bring me little roly-polies when they find them in the yard. They will come to me, eyes shining, thrilled at the cute little bug curled up in a little ball in the palm of their hands, but I know better than to fall for the charm of the pill bug. I have seen first hand the destruction and havoc they reek on my garden, munching on perfectly healthy plants when they had to walk through yummy mulch to get to them. If I did not know better I would say pill bugs know what they are doing and enjoy driving gardeners a bit bonkers! Pill bugs are also household pests as well but if you see pill bugs inside take that to mean you have a bigger problem than the bugs themselves. Pill bugs love moist areas you likely have a moisture problem if you have a pill bug problem inside.

Get Rid of Their Food Source and Home

Despite the pill bugs habit of wreaking a garden, their primary food source is mulch and dead vegetation. If you clean up around your yard, you will remove their home and primary food source. An added benefit is that you will likely get rid of their eggs as well.

Reduce Moisture Around and Inside Your Home

Pill bugs love moist areas, they need the moisture to survive. Therefore reducing moisture around and in your home will reduce or get rid of pill bugs. Look for puddles when you water your garden, leaky faucets and hoses, and moist moldy leaves all these places are a haven for pill bugs. Dry it up.

Sand, Diatomaceous Earth, Pesticides

As stated before pill bugs love moisture, they need it to live. Sand and Diatomaceous Earth dry out the pill bugs and retard their breathing. It is a last resort to getting rid of pill bugs but can be effective in killing them off if you find the other ways don’t work. Many organic pesticides will do the job. Keep in mind that if it will kill a slug it will kill a pill bug.

Pill bugs make interesting pets if you can believe it; my son’s teacher actually sent one home with each of her students! He named the little bugger and I tried not to grimace as I pictured all his little friends in my garden. Using the techniques mentioned above I need not worry about it much though.