Sowbugs have some unusual names — woodlice, Billy bakers, cheesy bobs, armadillo bugs, and chisel pigs. But most of these names don’t really describe them accurately.
Even though they’re called bugs, sowbugs are actually crustaceans, more closely related to crayfish and lobsters than insects. They’re often mistaken for pill bugs, or “roly-polies,” but they aren’t the same thing.
There’s a lot of misinformation about sowbugs, and it can be confusing. In this article, I’ll walk you through what makes them different and how to manage them if they start showing up in your home or garden.
What Are Sowbugs?
Sowbugs, or by their scientific name Oniscidea, are small, ranging from a quarter of an inch to just over half an inch in length. They have pill-shaped bodies covered in armored plates. Under these plates, they possess seven pairs of legs, a small pair of antennae, a set of gills, and short, tail-like appendages. Sowbugs can appear in colors ranging from dark brown to gray, black, tan, and even rusty orange.
These ‘bugs’ are scavengers and don’t bite, sting, carry disease, or destroy homes or property. People consider them a nuisance because they wander indoors toward warmth, moisture, and food. Sowbugs, like pill bugs, eat decaying organic matter, mostly from plants. While they attack and consume live plants, the damage is typically minimal, only posing a risk to very young garden transplants.
Sowbugs need moisture to survive, so you typically find them in warm, dark, damp areas. Outside, they live under rocks, mulch, soil, leaf litter, grass clippings, flowerpots, or compost. When they move indoors, sowbugs stick to dark, secluded places like crawl spaces, basements, and garages. They prefer to hide along windowsills, around doorframes, and under furniture, as well as between walls and on ground-level floors.
Life Cycle of Sowbugs
Sowbugs have a fascinating lifecycle that starts with the female carrying her eggs in a pouch, much like a kangaroo. This pouch, called a marsupium, holds the eggs until they hatch. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny sowbugs emerge as miniature versions of adults, skipping any larval stage. These little critters stay in moist environments, as they rely on humidity to survive. As they grow, they molt several times, shedding their outer shell to make room for their larger bodies.
Sowbugs are pretty slow-paced when it comes to development. It can take them up to a year to fully mature, depending on environmental conditions. Moisture is the key to their survival, so you’ll often find them hiding in damp, dark places like under rocks, mulch, or piles of decaying leaves. Once they reach adulthood, they continue their scavenging lifestyle, feasting on decaying organic matter and playing a small but important role in breaking down plant debris in the ecosystem.
Pill Bugs Vs. Sowbugs
Pill bugs and sowbugs are easy to mistake for one another because they have similar habits, appearance, and size. People often confuse the two so much that they use their names interchangeably. However, pill bugs lack the rear-end ‘tails’ of a sowbug, and sowbugs are generally flatter. Sowbugs also lack the pill bug’s ability to roll into balls, making pill bugs the only genuine ‘roly-poly’ of the two.
How To Prevent Sowbugs
Sowbugs rarely infest homes. Thankfully, you can easily prevent them by managing excess moisture in and around your home.
Because sowbugs need constant moisture to survive, the dry humidity in most houses will dry them out after a few days. If you experience sowbugs inside your home, a consistent source of moisture must be drawing them in and sustaining them. Common problems like leaks, damp basements, or overly wet lawns can lead to sowbugs taking up residence.
Outside, people typically consider sowbugs beneficial for lawns or gardens. Like worms, they break down plant matter and organic waste. However, a large number of sowbugs can become an unsightly nuisance and pose a small risk to young plants
How To Get Rid of Sowbugs
To remove sowbugs, focus on eliminating moisture, hiding places, and food. Start by checking outside because indoor sowbug problems usually result from an outdoor infestation. Look for areas with damp soil, rotting leaves, or piles of wood — these spots are like five-star hotels for sowbugs. If you manage to create a less inviting environment for these little critters, you’ll be well on your way to keeping them out of your home.
Some of the best sowbug prevention techniques are:
- Keeping a dry lawn: Sowbugs thrive in moist environments, making damp ground a favorite spot for them. But excessive moisture in your lawn can lead to other issues, like root rot and attracting more damaging pests such as termites. To maintain a healthy lawn and keep sowbugs at bay, aim for a consistent moisture level.
Start by making sure all outdoor faucets are functioning properly. Keep your gutters clean and free from debris to avoid water buildup. Direct gutter runoff at least 3 feet away from your home’s foundation to prevent excess moisture near your house. Lastly, set your sprinklers to deliver about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week, taking rainfall into account. By following these steps, you can create a less inviting environment for sowbugs while promoting a healthier lawn. - Removing debris and hiding places: Sowbugs hide under things like logs, dead leaves, rocks, woodpiles, and wheel barrels. Keep your lawn free of these attractants — if you own firewood or compost, keep it at least 30 feet away from your home.
- Sealing entry points: Sowbugs, like most invading pests, use small cracks, crevices, and gaps in foundations and siding to get inside your home. To help keep pests out, I recommend you inspect foundation cracks yearly. Use silicone caulking for all small cracks and expanding foam for all large holes and gaps. I also recommend replacing the weather stripping and screens on all exterior doors.
- Checking for leaks inside your home: If you’re still seeing sowbugs inside your home, you’ll want to look for major sources of moisture. Cracked or leaking pipes, faulty HVAC units, damaged fixtures, and inadequate ventilation are all common problems that can lead to sowbug infestations. In worst-case scenarios, you can use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the room where sowbugs frequent.
Final Thoughts
Sowbugs can play a helpful role in the garden by breaking down organic material, but they can quickly become an unsightly nuisance inside your home. When you see sowbugs, take it as a warning sign. Their presence, whether indoors or outdoors, often points to larger problems.
If you spot them inside, check for leaky pipes or foundation damage. An overrun garden typically signals that your lawn is too wet. So, while sowbugs may look strange, they serve as an early warning for more pressing issues.
In most cases, you don’t need to reach for insecticides or call a pest control company. With proper pest management practices, like maintaining a clean lawn and tidy home, you can keep these tiny crustaceans at bay without worrying.
FAQs
Various common names, including woodlice, armadillo bugs, damp beetles, or simply sowbugs. These names are often used interchangeably.
Sowbugs undergo a simple metamorphosis, consisting of three stages: egg, juvenile, and adult. After hatching from eggs, juvenile sowbugs closely resemble adults and go through a series of molts to grow. They reproduce by laying eggs, with multiple generations occurring each year.
Sowbugs are commonly found in damp, dark environments such as gardens, basements, crawlspaces, and under logs or rocks. They thrive in areas with organic debris, which provides food and shelter.
No, sowbugs are not harmful to humans or pets. They do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. They primarily feed on decaying plant matter and play a beneficial role in breaking down organic materials.
Usually, pesticide treatment is not necessary for controlling sowbugs. Physical methods like reducing excess moisture, eliminating organic debris, and sealing entry points can help manage sowbug populations without pesticides.
To make your home less accessible to sowbugs, consider the following:
- Address moisture issues by repairing leaks and improving ventilation.
- Remove or relocate organic debris, such as mulch or dead leaves, from around your home’s foundation.
- Seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior to prevent sowbugs from entering.
Yes, organic methods can be effective for controlling sowbugs. These methods include reducing excess moisture, maintaining a clean and dry environment, and practicing good yard hygiene. By minimizing organic debris and providing less hospitable conditions, you can naturally prevent sowbugs.
