Pest Index

Pillbugs and Sowbugs

• July 14, 2014
• Beacon Pest
• Pest Index

Identification:

• Overall Length: 13mm
• Colour: Greyish
• Other Features:  Plate-like tergites, multi segmented with 7 pairs of legs and antennae

Life Cycle:  Reproduction occurs in the spring.  Eggs are carried by the female in a brood pouch on the underside of the body.  They hatch in 3-7 weeks and then the young are carried for another 6 weeks.  Some may live as long as 3 years.

Behaviour:  Sowbugs and Pillbugs are Isopods that resemble little armadillos.  Both are wingless and are related to crustaceans such as shrimp, crayfish and lobsters.  They are not insects.  They are most active at night and may cluster together to conserve moisture.

Signs of Infestation:  Common harboring sites include: beneath concrete slabs; behind baseboards; inside cement block walls; under garbage; wood piles; and in any damp, cool location such as a crawl space.