How to EASILY Get Rid of Pill Bugs (aka: Roly Poly and Sowbug) (2024)

Pill bugs are one of the best-known little pests due to their armadillo-like defense mechanism. Unfortunately, they can be known by one of several different names depending on your location, and all of them are actually misnomers.

Regardless of what you call them, they’re an interesting little critter that has a habit of invading your home. Here’s how to get rid of pill bugs…

Identifying Pill Bugs

Pill bugs are a small, armored critter that looks more like a cross between a trilobite and armadillo. They’re really easy to spot, although it’s easy to get them confused with pill millipedes. As these two critters have a convergent evolution (meaning they evolved separately with a similar end result), we’ll be lumping the two together for much of this discussion.

Related: How to Get Rid of Millipedes

A Bug by Any Other Name

Depending upon where you live, this bug and its similar counterpart, the pill millipede, can have one or over 20 different nicknames. While the pill bug and sow bug (pill millipede) are only distant cousins, their similarity means you’ll probably not know which you have until you’re up close

Pill Bug

Perhaps the second most common name for this critter, it’s in reference to the slightly squashed look when the pill bug rolls into a ball. To this day, some pills have a similar shape.

Potato Bug

The most common name, especially on the East Coast, these critters have gained this name due to their habit of infesting potato plants.

Roly-Poly/Rollie Pollie

Besides being fun to say, this name is a direct reference to the bug’s ability to roll into a ball.

Wood Louse

This is actually a name that gets around quite a bit, and is again related to the bug’s habit of living near a cool, damp food source.

Other names

Between the two species, there are a number of names found worldwide. These additional names include:

Basic Biology

Being arthropods, pill bugs have a lot of biological features that are difficult to spot. The most obvious is their oblong, segmented body. Most often grey in color, the plates may also appear brown, white (after hatching), and pinkish (during molting).

Their underside is whitish, with several pairs of legs. They also have two long, thick antennae which have segments that make them look like additional legs.

Speaking of legs, they have smaller appendages under their shell which resemble legs but are actually used for breathing, grabbing water, and mating.

See Also: Shrimp and Roaches (Are They Related?)

Pill Bug vs Sow Bug Biology

The biology of these two critters can be so similar that you often won’t know which you have until you’re very close. Pill millipedes (sow bugs) have a flatter body and cannot roll into a ball. They also have an appendage somewhat resembling a tail and coloration a little closer to that of millipedes.

One other major difference is in the legs. Pill bugs have up to 7 pairs of legs, or one per segment. Pill millipedes, conversely, have two pairs per segment.

What Do Rollie Pollie Bugs Eat?

These little guys are an important part of the environment and feed off of dead plant matter. This is why woodlice can often be found in rotting trees.

They’ve earned the nicknames “potato bugs” and “tomato bugs” because they’ll sometimes go after healthy crop foods, although these are most often young plant shoots.

Identifying Pill Bug Infestations

Pill bugs can be a nuisance when they infest your garden, greenhouse, or home. To identify a pill bug infestation, the best thing to do is to keep an eye out for these critters around your property, especially in moist, dark areas.

In your garden and around your seedlings, pay close attention to the soil and roots of your plants. If you notice pill bugs congregating in significant numbers or see them feeding on tender green shoots, then it’s likely you have an infestation. Additionally, examine the soil and the base of your plants for any signs of damage caused by these pests.

Foundations and other structures near your garden or home also provide ideal habitats for pill bugs. Regularly inspect these areas for their presence, especially if they’re damp or have decaying materials nearby.

Moist environments like basem*nts, crawlspaces, and greenhouses may also contain pill bug infestations since they prefer high humidity levels.

Getting Rid of Pill Bugs

As a general rule, pill bugs are harmless and help aerate the soil. They’re also edible, but I wouldn’t recommend this, as they taste terrible. However, if you see these little guys munching on young garden plants or invading your home, then steps need to be taken.

In the House

The most frequent place you’ll find roly polies invading your home is in the basem*nt. The cool, damp atmosphere is perfect for their needs, and they love the darkness. Simply using a dehumidifier is sometimes enough to get them out of a finished basem*nts.

Finding a pill bug in your home can be an important early warning sign of water damage. As they require moisture to survive, spotting an infestation of pill bugs near pipes or portions of wall can be an indication that repairs are needed. Once the source of moisture is gone, the pill bugs will soon follow.

Note that you will need to not only remove the source of moisture, but also seal any nearby cracks or entry points. The pill bugs themselves can simply be vacuumed up, but so long as there’s a hospitable space (especially in the autumn when these critters are looking for a warmer residence), there’s always a risk of reinfestation.

In the Garden

As already mentioned, pill bugs can be highly beneficial to your garden. They make compost, aerate the soil, and have enough predators that they’ll rarely overpopulate any outdoor space. The downside is that they’ll sometimes snack on young shoots and berries, giving the signal that an eviction is needed.

When eliminating pill bugs from your garden, you should always think of it as as form of population control and not an outright extermination. These critters are necessary for your garden to remain healthy, so never try to completely eradicate them.

Some people use salt to try and dry out the pill bug (as they do with ants), although this isn’t very effective and could harm your plants. A more positive weapon is Diatomaceous Earth, which is relatively safe for humans and larger pets, but will kill insects and other bugs which walk over it.

Other critters such as frogs and lizards love to eat small bugs and pill bugs are no exception. So get yourself a couple of these to control the rollie pollie infestation but then you may have other critters to worry about.

Does Vinegar Kill Pills Bugs?

No, vinegar cannot kill pill bugs. While vinegar can be used as a pesticide to eliminate certain types of insects, there is no evidence to suggest that vinegar can kill pill bugs due to it not being potent enough to penetrate the pill bug’s shell-like exoskeleton.

In fact, pill bugs are known to be resistant to many types of pesticides. Vinegar can, however, be used as a natural cleaning agent and disinfectant.

Preventing a Future Pill Bug Infestation

Maintain a Healthy Garden Environment

A healthy garden environment is one of the best ways to prevent pill bug infestations. By reducing the damp and dark hiding places they love, you can minimize their presence in your garden.

Things you can do:

• Remove decaying plant matter, such as mulch and leaves, to eliminate their breeding grounds.
• Maintain a 1 to 2-foot buffer between your home’s foundation and any landscape plantings.
• Keep firewood off the ground and away from your home.
• Store garden tools and flower pots off the ground.

Seal Entry Points

It’s equally important to seal any entry points in your home that might invite pill bugs indoors.

• Check for gaps or cracks around doors and windows, and apply weather-stripping where needed.
• Seal openings, such as vents, with caulk to keep pill bugs out.
• Regularly inspect your home’s exterior for any signs of damage or entry points, and make repairs as needed.

Improve Ventilation

Because of their love for damp places, making sure you have proper ventilation is important. Here are some things you can do to help with that:

• Install a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as basem*nts, crawlspaces, or attics, to help control humidity levels.
• Use fans or other air-circulation devices to keep the air moving and minimize dampness.
• Store paper, cardboard, and other organic matter off the floor to avoid attracting pill bugs.