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Insects in the City - Texas AgriLife Extension - Texas AgriLife Extension
House and Garden Series
F@stSheet Ent-1044
Pillbugs are common inhabitants of landscapes and garden sites around buildings.
Among the few crustaceans that have fully adapted to life on land, pillbus occasionally
become pests around the home.
IDENTIFICATION
The common pillbug, Armadillium vulgare,
is a familiar inhabitant of mulched gardens and flower beds. Sometimes called
"roly-polies" because of their habit of rolling up into a tight ball
when disturbed, pillbugs are small (generally less than 1 cm-long), brownish
to grey-black in color, and armored in appearance. The head and abdomen are
relatively small, but the thorax is composed of seven overlapping plates. There
are seven pairs of legs.
DAMAGE
In most years pillbugs content themselves in feeding
harmlessly on decaying vegetable matter in and on the soil. However when abundant--as
in years of high rainfall--they can become a significant pest of landscape plants.
Most feeding takes place in the evening or at night. Feeding pillbugs readily
feed on small garden plants, and new transplants can be eaten to the ground
overnight. Some of the plants attacked include hosta, pansies, blue lobelia,
cardinal flower, English primrose, Allyssum, Dahlberg daisy, zinnia, verbena,
and blackfoot daisy. Garden vegetables are also susceptible, especially strawberries
and other plants with fruits that contact the soil. During the day, pillbugs
can be found in moist areas under mulch or leaves and vegetable debris of all
kinds. Cooler portions of compost piles can also harbor large numbers of pillbugs.
Pillbugs often bury themselves several inches beneath the soil surface to avoid
hot, dry conditions. Pillbugs are prolific, giving birth to 30-80 young per
brood. In Texas pillbugs may produce two to three generations per year. Adult
pillbugs are relatively long-lived, with some surviving several years.
CONTROL
The best way to eliminate pillbugs is to destroy their breeding
and hiding sites. Eliminate unnecessary piles of leaves, grass clippings and
mulch. Flower pots, planters, dog houses, firewood, bricks or other objects
that sit directly on the ground should be elevated to allow air-flow and drying
underneath. Adjust irrigation systems so that the soil around your home has
a chance to dry between waterings. When abundant, pillbugs may enter homes and
become a nuisance. This can be prevented by careful sealing of doors and cracks
in foundations. Pillbugs are harmless and can be removed by hand, or by vacuuming.
They rarely survive more than one or two days indoors, due to lack of moisture.
Pesticide sprays, granules and baits can help control pillbugs outdoors. Permethrin
insecticide is more effective than acephate (Orthene) or carbaryl (Sevin) sprays.
Other pyrethroid insecticides, such
as cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate or lambda-cyhalothrin should also provide control.
Always follow label directions, especially when applying slug and snail baits,
as these products can be harmful to children and pets if misapplied.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
More information about household and garden insects is available through your
county Extension agent. For more information about pyrethroid and other types
of insecticides, see F@stSheet Ent-1046, Understanding
Common House & Garden Insecticides. Also see Extension publication
L-1735, Sowbugs and Pillbugs.
Author:
Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist, Texas AgriLife Extension
Publication information:
This publication is part of the House & Landscape Pest Series produced by
the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
77843-2475. Series Editor: M. Merchant. For more information about
arthropods, check out the Texas A&M Entomology Website at http://insects.tamu.edu
Last Revised: October 31, 2003
The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference
to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no
discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service
is implied. Additional, or updated copies of this fact sheet may be obtained
by contacting the author(s) at Texas AgriLife Extension, 17360 Coit Road,
Dallas, Texas 75252-6599. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless
of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the
County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
All content and images Copyright © 2003, Texas AgriLife Extension,
unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
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