pill bugs glowing
unbrokenchain42
14 years ago
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suzq_07
14 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Sow bugs/Pill bugs/"rollie-pollies"/wretched insects from hell
Comments (23)These do eat plants when their numbers are high. They do. There should be no debating this. If anyone doesn't believe it, they haven't had an infestation of pill bugs and don't really have the experience to help someone regarding. I cannot grow legume or peas without killing these bugs in the area or they will take down every one of the healthy seedlings. I drench the soil in the area with liquid spinosad. Once the plant is established, it's good. I gotta eat, too. I read somewhere that pill bugs remove metals and is likely to remove some toxins in the soil. I'm still trying to figure why I have so many and what purpose they are serving beyond the normal "eat decaying matter"....See Morepill bugs/roly poly bugs & big hairy spiders
Comments (1)Like many other insect digesters of organic matter pill bugs and sow bugs like a cool moist environment, such as that created by well mulched gardens and why they are found most often under rocks or other materials that create a cool, moist environment. People often find them in basements for hte same reason, it is cool and moist and there is a food source. Pill bugs ansd sow bugs are part of Ma Natures recycling machine and as a rule are not major pests outside and if nothing is done outside natural predators will appear to keep them under control. If poisons ar sprayed around that kill the predators of these wee critters then the population can grow. The pill bugs and sow bugs, as well as ants and many other critters, do not belong in our houses and the simplest means of control is to change the environment to one the do not like. Find the cool moist places they like and dry them out. Numerous studies indicate that sprying any of those insect poisons in the house does long term damage to us. Spiders are in your house because there is a food source. Very few spiders are harmful to humans and those that are are not the ones you see. Eliminate the food sources and the spiders will leave....See Morehow to get rid of pill bugs??
Comments (84)I agree with the majority, the little beasties are a true pest! I always thought they were the workhorse of nature and that their good out-weighed the bad but no more! I have great soil and mulch with different kinds of things, pine needles, bark mulch and straw from my chickens. They have multiplied into the thousands. The last 2 years they have eaten off the sprouts of my Angel Trumpets so bad that they have failed to bloom for the last two years. They are in the dead stems from the previous years growth. I can't eliminate them unless I dig up the plant and cut away those stems. It is not happening because the clumps are very large and I worked hard to get them established. They are also in the hostas and in my tomatoes. They get in every house plant that I put out over the summer and I have to repot everything every year or lose them over the winter because the little turds eat the roots and leaves of my house plants. I am ready to use whatever I have to do to eliminate them. I have plenty of birds and toads, frogs and parasitic bugs in my garden, I encourage spiders and all other good bugs and even my chickens will not eat them. I tried and suffered the damage from my chickens in the hopes that they would eliminate the little buggers. Spinosad is a natural organic method of killing pests the same as Bt has been used to eliminate cabbage worms. It is also the ingredient in Comfortis that I give my dogs for flea control. I will try the beer but if it dosen't work I am going to bring out the big guns!!!...See MorePill bugs, sow bugs, rolls polices what ever you call them?
Comments (2)Hey, Sheila. You can use spinosad. It comes in concentrated forms where you dilute with water and spray on plants or drench the soil. Locally, I find the bottles in the farm stores in spring and summer. IT WORKS ON PILL BUGS. This is also a natural pesticide. Purists don't consider it organic. It is considered a broad spectrum and might harm beneficials. Since you're using malathion, I'd imagine you're not worried about that. It also kills grub worms when you drench the soil. However, it does NOT kill earthworms. Spinosad is also a primary ingredient in Sluggo PLUS (not the regular Sluggo). Sluggo kills slugs and they added the spinosad to Sluggo Plus. So, if you cannot find bottles with isolated spinosad, you can buy Sluggo Plus. I am one of those that cannot grow beans or peas because the pill bugs eat my live plants before they even have a chance to become established....See Moredkalavik_gmail_com
13 years ago
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years ago
ShatteredSoul77
3 years agoJoshua Crippen
3 years ago
PROThe Logician LLC
3 years ago
Fori
3 years agohuachuma
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago- PRO
The Logician LLC
3 years ago huachuma
3 years agoI can't either after a short search. Even though I no longer live in Minnesota, I'm going to collect a few of the local pill bugs and see what I can see... I'm not sure if they'll be the same species, but suzq_07 was in PA when she thought saw them glowing, so who knows.
My daughter and I did find a fire fly larva on a hike earlier this year that was rolled up somewhat like a pill bug, but when it started crawling away it was obvious it wasn't by the number of legs.
Lora Hitt
2 years agomageoffur
2 years ago
Jon F
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Brendan McDonough
2 years ago
James Dearfield
7 months agoJames Dearfield
7 months agoJames Dearfield
7 months ago
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