With a name like ‘roly poly’ how could this bug possibly be a problem? It sounds so cute and chubby and fun, doesn’t it? Perhaps you recognize these creatures by another name such as: pill bug, wood louse, armadillo bug, or potato bug, but a roly poly by any other name is still a roly poly.

You may think by its name that this is an insect, but you would be incorrect. The roly poly is related to the crayfish and shrimp and is actually a crustacean. In fact, they are the only crustacean that lives entirely on land. The roly poly breathes through gills and must have moisture to survive, but interestingly, it cannot live submerged in water.

Pill bugs are not dangerous to humans, but they can cause some damage to plants. These bugs will eat leaves and roots of young plants causing harm to those delicate sprouts. They will also cause quite a stir if they decide to infest your house, especially when they infest in large numbers.

There are some things that you can do to keep roly polys out of your home such as:

• Be sure all exterior doors have door sweeps that are intact and functional.
• Find and seal all gaps, cracks, and holes in your foundation and around doors and windows.
• Use a dehumidifier and air conditioning to eliminate moisture and control humidity levels.
• Remove piles of organic matter from your yard, including leaves, grass, twigs, and old plants.
• Keep composting piles away from your home.
• Keep wood stored away from your home and elevate woodpiles from the ground.

These measures go a long way in preventing roly poly bugs from invading your home, but these pests can still find a way in. And they do nothing to keep roly polys from damaging plants and other crops.

If you are struggling with roly poly bugs inside your home, the root of the problem lies somewhere deep within dark, difficult places to access areas such as wall voids and basements which make them a difficult pest to find, treat, and completely eliminate. This is where Active Pest Control comes in. Our pest control specialists have the advanced training, experience, and registered products to safely combat issues with roly poly bugs, and when you partner with us by choosing one of our year-round pest protection plans, you can be sure that you have placed an impenetrable pest barrier around your home that will keep these, and many other pests, out.

Don’t struggle with roly polys this winter when help is only a call away.