There are insects that lead an active lifestyle mainly at night. Some representatives of this group even live in human homes. An example is woodlice in an apartment. Professionals know well how to get rid of these insects, but ordinary people are often far from knowing this issue. Parasites take up residence in the bathroom. When faced with them, you have to think about whether to turn to specialists or get rid of these creatures with home remedies.
Types of woodlice
In general, there are several thousand species of woodlice (3500-5000 according to various sources).
Typically found in a home:
- Common woodlouse-armadillo (Armadillidium vulgare). It is easily recognized by its high, dark-colored shell. Crustaceans prefer damp cellars and basements, so they are not very often found in houses and apartments, but anything can happen. If there is a possible threat, the creature instantly curls up into a ball.
- Woodlouse (Porsellio scaber). This is a fairly famous “traveler” of apartments. Characteristic features of representatives of this species:
- The shell has a reddish tint.
- 7 pairs of legs allow tiny creatures to move very quickly.
- They don't know how to roll up into a ball.
Woodlice should not be confused with silverfish (a silver-gray insect with a flat body that tapers towards the tail) and with flycatchers (they have a huge number of legs). Woodlice have a larger body (up to 20 mm), thick, oval, consisting of segments
It’s interesting that crustaceans get into the apartment:
- Together with soil collected from the park for replanting indoor flora.
- With soil-contaminated root vegetables purchased at the market.
- From attics or basements.
- From sewer pipes.
- Along the ventilation ducts.
- From neighbors who are so comfortable that small pests have multiplied in huge numbers and decided to develop new territories.
Woodlice are not picky eaters. They will happily eat rotten vegetables, leaves of indoor plants, can get to the roots, and will not disdain leftover food sent to the trash can, crumbs, leftovers on plates in the sink, animal food, etc. If food is really tight, crustaceans will be happy about mold spores that appeared in the bathroom due to high humidity
Appearance and features
Crustaceans resemble small insects. Their dimensions do not exceed 2 cm. The body of the woodlice is oval in shape, slightly tapering towards the back. It is divided into segments and protected by a hard shell. Crustaceans move using seven pairs of thoracic legs. If you catch an individual, it curls up into a ball. It can be recognized by its long antennae and color. White and brown woodlice are found in nature.
Land creatures need oxygen, which enters the body through the gills. They require water to open, so individuals settle in places with high humidity. They usually grow in the garden, greenhouse or bathroom. You can notice them in the evening when they go out in search of food. During the day, uninvited guests hide.
In the house they live in the basement and attic. Less commonly, the insect is found in pots with plants. Woodlice love soil containing remains of leaves and tree bark. This soil is used for growing orchids and other indoor plants with a dense trunk and fleshy leaves. Often crustaceans are found in other places: toilet, bathhouse, ventilation system.
Attention! Pests often appear on the first and last floors of old buildings.
They feed on spoiled plants, rotten vegetables and fruits. Less often - fresh flowers, algae and moss. Woodlice reproduce by laying eggs in a pouch. During this period, the body changes. On the first five pairs of legs, plates appear, which represent a chamber for breeding offspring. After hatching, the female sheds her skin and restores her previous appearance. The life span of crustaceans is 9-12 months.
Reasons for appearance and habitat in the apartment
So, we know: for woodlice to appear in an apartment, there must be high humidity (dampness), which will be an ideal factor for the existence and reproduction of small creatures. Perhaps in nature these representatives of the fauna feel more comfortable than in a space limited by walls, but once in human housing, they choose:
- Bathroom or toilet room.
- Storerooms.
- The kitchen, especially the areas under the sink.
- Ventilation shafts and air ducts.
What attracts woodlice there? Now let’s figure it out, because the reasons can be very different:
- In the kitchen there are leftovers of food that have already begun to rot in the trash can.
- Stagnant water in buckets, bowls or other containers.
- Leaking toilet and wet rags on the floor.
- Wet laundry that has been left in the bathroom for too long.
- Excessive watering of indoor flowers leads to stagnation of water and the appearance of a musty smell.
- Vegetables and fruits stored in a closet or on the balcony.
- Dirty dark corners of rooms.
- Damp walls, ceilings or floors.
- Old, compacted books, etc.
If the apartment does not have the required level of humidity, wood lice are not interested in it, and they continue on their way in search of a more comfortable home. Controlled dryness in the room and regular ventilation do not allow crustaceans to breathe deeply, much less reproduce.
How to get rid of wood lice in the bathroom and toilet?
When wood lice appear in the bathroom, it is better to remove them using chemical methods. They will quickly remove insects and prevent further spread.
In the bathroom, woodlice feed on soggy paper, microscopic fungi, and limescale. They settle under plumbing fixtures, baseboards, and leaking pipes. Sometimes crustaceans are found under plastic panels and rugs. To remove them permanently, you need to:
- close/seal the ventilation holes;
- eliminate leaks;
- remove wet rugs and rags;
- pour table salt in the corners and near the risers;
- spray an aerosol or diluted concentrate on the walls.
The bathroom is a wet room, so it needs regular cleaning and ventilation. By maintaining cleanliness, the risk of wood lice appearing is reduced to zero.
Features of woodlice
The nimble little woodlice are sometimes called miniature brontosaurs and compared to tiny armadillos. The crustaceans have a 7-plate chitinous shell, they have 2 pairs of whiskers and 7 pairs of limbs, and also:
- These are the only representatives of crustaceans that did not completely abandon the water element, but chose a land existence.
- When living conditions worsen, they can hibernate, and the duration of such suspended animation is up to 9 months.
- Reproduction occurs not only through fertilization, but also “without a dad” - parthenogenetically.
- Land crustaceans have breathing sacs and so-called land gills. Arthropods absorb oxygen from the thin film of moisture that wets these gills.
- Since they are not insects, the use of insecticides is not always advisable , because the effect of the active substance is very limited. Therefore, it is necessary to use either very strong drugs, or supplement them with other agents, or carry out the treatment several times.
If at least one woodlice appears in the apartment, you must immediately begin to act:
- Make sure there are no leaks in the water supply and sewerage systems.
- Try to reduce high humidity to a minimum by all possible means.
- Promptly seal existing gaps and cracks in the walls and ceiling, remove gaps around the risers of communication pipes (spray foam can help).
General description of insects
Woodlice are classified as a suborder of crustaceans. Under natural conditions, these small pests reproduce and live in rotten wood and damp litter. They do not pose any particular danger, but the very proximity to these creatures causes disgust and hostility.
Their activity peaks in the spring and autumn months. They breed in the summer. In this case, the female keeps the eggs in a special sac attached to her body. She moves with him from place to place until she finds a place that is safe for the development of larvae. It is easy to distinguish these insects by their appearance. They have a rounded body, which is divided into sections:
- head;
- chest;
- stomach.
What is surprising is that these creatures breathe through their gills. During their existence, woodlice have managed to adapt to land conditions.
Ways to combat woodlice
When choosing the most optimal method for expelling and destroying woodlice, each housewife takes into account a number of points: the size of a particular apartment, the number of woodlice and the reasons for their appearance, habitat, etc. Also, each of them understands that it is unlikely that it will be possible to get rid of woodlice easily and quickly. Here you need to be patient and act comprehensively , gradually moving towards the complete extermination of pests:
- Create conditions that are completely unsuitable for the existence of crustaceans.
- Block all possible paths and loopholes that could lead woodlice into the house.
- Get rid of all the creatures that have occupied the apartment in the most effective ways (you can use several - active and preventive or enhancing, as well as prolonging the effect of the first).
- Be sure to try to destroy pests in the very heart of their colony, their breeding places (usually in the basement or attic).
Classification of parasites
Several dozen species of woodlice are found in Russia. Of these, only 2 varieties can be found within the apartment. This:
- armadillo woodlouse;
- rough.
For these insects, human housing is not the most suitable place to live. That is why only the most unpretentious representatives can exist here. Scientists say that our country has already developed its own unique species of these creatures. Each of them has its own distinctive features that set them apart from other crustaceans.
Everything is quite simple: there is excessive humidity - wood lice appear in the apartment. It is not difficult to understand how to get rid of them, because there are many available methods. But the first priority is still the elimination of the factor contributing to their spread.
Armadillo (Armadillidium vulgare)
This type is most widespread and is considered the most famous. Its characteristic feature is the presence of a high shell and a dark body color. This parasite can be found quite rarely in apartments. He prefers to live in a damp cellar, basement, and heating mains. In villages and cities it is found in gardens, along roadsides and wastelands. To detect it, just lift a stone or any other object located on the ground.
This species feeds on living and decaying plants. Its presence in front gardens and vegetable gardens can cause significant damage to plantings. On the other hand, they prefer weeds rather than cultivated species. The armadillo has a miniature size and moves slowly. When trying to catch it, the insect curls up into a ball. This species, quite by accident, during one shipment, came from Europe to the United States, where it spread on a catastrophic scale. Now in California there are places where you can find over 10,000 individuals per square meter.
Rough (Porcellio scaber)
This type is most often found in residential premises. Such insects are quite mobile, compared to the armadillo, they run much faster. It costs them nothing to move between floors of apartment buildings and enter old attics, sometimes in whole hordes. If the roof of a building is leaking and no one is in a hurry to fix it, most likely, parasites will soon arrive here.
Professional exterminators know well how to get rid of woodlice quickly. But often home owners decide to deal with uninvited guests on their own.
This species got its name because of the rough surface that can be felt when an individual is caught. In any danger, she does not curl up into a ball, but arches her body and simultaneously moves her ten legs in order to quickly escape. Its shell is quite flat and soft. It may vary in color. There are representatives with black, reddish and white colors, with an inconspicuous pink tint. Individuals with a dark body shade are found mainly when moving towards the east. Once introduced into an apartment, this species can become a potential pest, especially if it gets into a pantry where fruits and vegetables are stored.
Folk remedies
Many people adopt folk methods of dealing with uninvited “guests”. And for a reason. After all, they are time-tested, affordable, safe for people, and most importantly, they are effective. Here are some of them.
No. 1. Boric acid (in different versions)
Boric acid, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, is a white powder and is one of the most effective means for killing woodlice. The product can be used in dry form, in solution, or in a mixture.
- Sprinkle the dry powder generously along all baseboards and in the corners of the rooms.
- Prepare a solution: dilute 10 g of acid in 10 liters of water. It is good to wipe the surfaces in places where crustaceans are located with the resulting composition for 2-5 days.
- Roll into small balls from a mixture of boric acid, semolina and egg yolks, or boric acid, flour and table salt. Place killer baits in areas of greatest concentration of woodlice.
No. 2. Kvass
Dry kvass must be dissolved in hot water (boiling water) in a ratio of 1:5. Spray the solution in the toilet, bathroom, corners and shelves, leave for 8-10 hours with doors and windows closed. When the time is up, do a wet cleaning.
No. 3. Bleaching
A bleach solution is made at the rate of 50 g of product per 1 liter of water. They treat all surfaces that raise doubts, including vertical ones.
No. 4. Vinegar
Vinegar dissolved in water is not liked not only by many insects, but also by woodlice. The liquid mixture, applied in the places where they live, scares off the small tenants with its smell and forces them to leave previously conquered territories.
No. 5. Alum
100 g of alum is dissolved in 0.5 liters of water and used to kill pests. For a homemade preparation to work, it is enough to apply it in the habitats of arthropods.
No. 6. Mustard with soda
- Mix soda and mustard powder. Dilute the resulting mass in water and treat baseboards, floors, and walls. The mixture can also be used in dry form - just sprinkle the problem area, and the effect of the composition on woodlice will be enhanced by additionally placing in different places small plates with a slurry of soda and mustard.
- Mix 20 g of mustard powder with 2 liters of water and let it brew for 24 hours. The resulting product is applied under the sink, sink, bathtub and toilet, and the suspension is also poured over the soil in which indoor flora grows.
No. 7. A mixture of pepper, tobacco and soda
Prepare a mixture of tobacco, red pepper and soda (salt), taking 3 g of all ingredients. Dissolve the resulting composition in 1 liter of water. Using a spray bottle, spray the solution in places where woodlice are most concentrated, leave for several hours, and then treat the surfaces with a chlorine-containing agent.
No. 8. Red pepper (hot)
100 g of pepper are ground in a meat grinder, 1 liter of cold water is added to the pulp and left to steep for 10 days. Then the infusion is diluted with plain water at the rate of 1/100 to treat plants against woodlice.
No. 9. Garlic
Chop 100 g of peeled garlic, add 2 liters of water (cold) and leave for 10 days. The resulting infusion is used to treat plants that have become food for wood lice and places where the latter accumulate.
No. 10. Hellebore, wormwood and hogweed
Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used these plants (dry, fresh, and their infusions) to destroy woodlice. You need to work with folk poisons very carefully so as not to get hurt in the process.
No. 11. Essential oils
Oils from plants such as eucalyptus, citronella or peppermint are applied to areas where moisture is most present or collects. It is enough to drop a few drops for the crustaceans to hurry to leave the area.
No. 12. Salt
Rock table salt is scattered on the floor in places where the greatest amount of moisture can be observed, for example, in the bathroom. Salt perfectly absorbs this moisture and will work to dry out the room, which wood lice will not really like.
No. 13. Quicklime
Quicklime is a super-powerful remedy against crustaceans. Lime is placed in a container and diluted with water. The resulting mixture is placed in a certain room (bath), the door is closed and left for 3 days. Since the interaction of quicklime with water is accompanied by a violent reaction with the release of not only heat, but also a specific odor and caustic substances, it is necessary to take care to protect the skin, eyes and respiratory organs, and also remove toothbrushes, combs, creams, cosmetics and other things from the room personal hygiene. On the 4th day, everything is taken out, thorough cleaning and long-term ventilation are done.
No. 14. Kerosene and gasoline
These flammable substances actually help in exterminating woodlice. And arthropods die if the room is treated with a mixture of gasoline and kerosene, taken in equal proportions. But using them means exposing yourself and your home to danger, since in a confined space there is a high probability of the formation of an explosive mixture, and even an explosion itself (at the slightest careless movement or a small spark). Therefore, before choosing a method of dealing with tiny crustaceans, it is better to thoroughly think through all the pros and cons.
How to get rid of woodlice in a greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a comfortable place for pests to live. When a greenhouse is affected by wood lice, it is better to remove them using traditional methods, since they do not leave harmful components in the air. The following remedies will help get rid of pests:
- salt;
- boric acid;
- a mixture of soda and pepper;
If there are a lot of woodlice, a solution of dry bread kvass (40 g) in 400 ml of hot water is applied to the surface. It is left for 10-12 hours and washed off with water.
Homemade traps
Homemade traps are simple, unobtrusive and very affordable. It won’t be difficult to organize this, and it will bring benefits, even if not super huge.
No. 15. Bath brooms
The trap can be prepared from bath brooms (birch or oak), but if you find them a problem, then you can use an ordinary household broom and even just damp rags or containers filled with fallen leaves (wet). The brooms must be well moistened and placed in places where land crustaceans most often appeared, and left overnight. And when morning comes, it is necessary to collect traps and destroy living creatures.
No. 16. Potatoes and carrots
Although root traps are a simple option, they can significantly reduce crustacean colonies. Small holes are made in the tubers and the vegetables are left overnight. Woodlice rush to the bait, sensing the smell of juice, get inside, and in the morning you can throw everything away together: both root vegetables and pests.
How to make bait and traps yourself
In order to kill woodlice, you can use homemade traps.
- Take a birch broom or a regular rag.
- Wet thoroughly and leave in the corner of the room overnight.
- In the morning, take this item out of the house and shake out the woodlice.
If woodlice have chosen a flower pot:
- take raw potatoes or carrots and, after cutting out the core, place them near the indoor plants;
- In the morning, throw away the bait along with the woodlice that have crawled inside.
It should be noted that these methods have low efficiency. Discarded woodlice can return to their favorite home.
No. 17. Heat treatment
This method is often used when colonies of woodlice are clearly visible visually and are at an accessible distance. The fact is that crustaceans die at temperatures above 70°C or when exposed to steam. Therefore, if possible, a steam cleaner or hair dryer is quite suitable.
As for indoor plants, very often the only way to save them is replanting. Before transplanting the flower into another pot, you need to rinse its roots well. If everything is very sad, you should lower the plant for 15 minutes in a container with warm water. Destroy any woodlice that float to the surface
Potential Difficulties
The use of chemical components may be potentially dangerous. This is why they require considerable caution. After the component used has taken effect, it should be removed from the treatment site. Children, family members with allergies, and pets should be moved to another place for the period of insect control.
The person handling synthetic products must wear a mask and gloves. Windows must be left open. It is believed that chlorine and quicklime have the greatest effect on wood lice.
Chemical destruction
The use of chemicals to kill woodlice requires a responsible approach and, if you cannot do without them, you must:
- Initially, carefully read the instructions and do not neglect the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Put the safety of people first, and then the degree of effectiveness of the drug.
The range of modern insecticidal preparations is quite large and making the right choice is not difficult.
No. 18. Aerosols
Aerosols, of course, will give a positive result much faster than traditional methods. The active substance of the drugs is strong insecticides. However, maximum benefit can be obtained by using the product in a limited space. That is, it is good if wood lice concentrate in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen. The most effective aerosols include:
- "Tarax" deservedly takes its place among the leading drugs. The film that forms after spraying is poisonous and first paralyzes arthropods, and then their death occurs.
- “Dichlorvos Varan” (universal - acts on any insects and various living creatures for 20 minutes after spraying. It is odorless, but must be used in sufficiently large quantities.
- "Tetrix" belongs to a series of concentrated preparations, sprayed around the apartment in small quantities. It is effective, but does not act immediately, therefore, as practice shows, repeated treatment of the apartment is required.
- “Dichlorvos (Eco and Neo)”, “Combat”, “Clean House”, “Raptor” and others are aerosols that are very successful in destroying woodlice.
No. 19. Solutions prepared from concentrates
To obtain the solution, high concentration insecticides are used. The drugs are diluted in water according to the instructions. The prepared mixture is poured into a spray bottle and surface treatment begins. The products are so effective that some of the ones proposed below are used by pest control services. Most Popular:
- "Tetrix" and "Cifox".
- "Taran" and "Xulat Micro".
- "Cucaracha" and "Delta Zone".
New developments are becoming increasingly popular - microencapsulated drugs with increased efficiency and extended duration of action:
- "Get" and "Lambda Zone".
- "Xulat" and "Tarax".
No. 20. Dusts and powders
As for dusts and powders, their purpose is to be scattered around the perimeter of rooms, kitchens, etc., poured under baseboards, into corners and crevices to combat woodlice. Despite the fact that insecticidal powders are powerful means of exterminating pests, they have one small drawback - the impossibility of applying them to walls. This means that some arthropods (and probably a considerable number) will escape along vertical surfaces. To avoid such situations, powdered formulations are used in a duet or trio with other products. But the effect of such a combination is amazing. Well proven:
- "Riapan" and "Phenaxin".
- "Neopin" and dust "Clean House".
No. 21. Pencils (crayons)
Special pencils are easy, convenient and fast. They will be an excellent solution for small rooms. Using insecticidal chalk, draw lines where woodlice will sooner or later get caught. The peculiarity of land crustaceans is their flat bodies, and it is this body structure that leads to the adhesion of poisonous substances to them in large quantities. Subsequently, this, of course, leads to the death of woodlice. In addition, using a special pencil, you can block the paths for pests to enter the apartment - draw a kind of “border” (around sockets, ventilation outlets, etc.). Even if annoying creatures violate it, they will already be doomed to death. The most popular insecticidal chalk among housewives is “Mashenka” and its analogue “Titanic”.
No. 22. Gels
Gels work in a similar way to crayons. Usually they choose remedies for domestic ants and cockroaches - they attract woodlice and act to destroy them. One of the best gels is Antiinsecte. The drugs are applied to the surface in strips directly from the tube or using a syringe. A combination of several methods gives a good result.
Gels are one of the most relevant methods for exterminating woodlice. By their nature, isopod crustaceans have a kind of “immunity” to insecticides. And wet cleaning and solutions are generally a blessing for them. In the case of gels, we are talking about food poisoning: crustaceans are partial to organic matter, i.e. will also eat bait gels
No. 23. Baits with poison
Many housewives are well aware of baits with poison, which very successfully resist the invasion of cockroaches. This is exactly how you can get rid of woodlice. Tiny crustaceans, like all animals, need to eat, and they happily eat the remains of human food. This opportunity must be used, but in order to enhance the effect, the classic recipe for poisoned bait (egg yolk and boric acid) is slightly changed. Instead of the last component, take a concentrated insecticide preparation: “Delta Zone”, “Xulat Micro” or “Lambda Zone”. You'll have to wait a while for the arthropods to get enough, but the result is worth it.
No. 24. Sticky traps
The action of sticky devices does not lead to mass destruction of woodlice. Therefore, it is best to use them for preventive purposes: after the action of the main drugs or vice versa, so as not to take on “chemistry”, but to catch a couple of creatures that accidentally got into the apartment. Often bought: “Argus”, “Global”, “Brownie”, “Raptor”, etc.
No. 25. Smoke bombs
It is unlikely that this method will be a godsend in the fight against woodlice when it comes to an apartment. But to destroy the source of their reproduction, insecticidal-repellent bombs will be very useful. As a rule, these products are used to treat basements and attics. Someone might think: “What do I care about this basement, they won’t get to me.” Believe me, they will get there. And since the war is going on on all fronts, this procedure is simply necessary - we will not only get rid of arthropods, but also not give them the opportunity to reproduce and come back again.
To get excellent results, it is better to choose smoke bombs whose active ingredient is permethrin. When the active substance begins to work, the woodlice die, and the surfaces after treatment are covered with a very thin layer of permethrin. It will be the reliable protection of the premises from repeated invasion of pests. The most popular drugs are “City” and “Quiet Evening”.
If it is not possible to use strong chemicals, you can use sulfur smoke bombs. “Climate” and “Face” are popular among users. At the same time, you must be prepared for the fact that the drugs will not give the same effect as the above checkers (it will be less) and the duration of the protection will also not be as long.
Rating of the most popular means
According to the estimates of the majority of Internet users, among the specialized means to get rid of woodlice in residential premises, the most effective are:
- Tarax is a universal insect repellent;
- Scabengel bait gel. The substance is easily applied to any surface, does not have a pungent odor and allows you to reduce the number of woodlice in a few days. The main advantages of the drug are ease of use and high efficiency;
- new generation dichlorvos “Varan”, odorless and safe for people and pets;
- Get is a liquid concentrate, as well as an analogue of this drug, produced under the name “Master”;
- Tetrix is a potent remedy that contains cypermethrin, which allows you to get rid of woodlice for more than 70 days. This drug is very toxic, but it guarantees high results in the fight against any insects. Its use requires compliance with the precautions described in detail in the instructions.
Popular means of exterminating insects in different rooms - gallery
Tarax is an effective insect killer
Scabengel bait gel is liked by users due to its ease of use and high efficiency
Dichlorvos "Varan" is harmless to people and pets
The drug Get has proven itself well in the fight against woodlice
Tetrix is the most effective drug that gets rid of woodlice for a long time
Reviews of the best means to kill woodlice
My husband and I started reading articles “How to get rid of wood lice”, the advice surprised us - wash the floor more often, dry the room, in the end all the articles had approximately the same information: only a team of professional pest control agents can deal with them, and not at once! We were about to call this team when my husband came across Tarax powder on the Internet. I want to say right away that there is very little information about this miracle remedy. And it really works, even for pennies!
Olga Ostapchuk
https://irecommend.ru/content/eto-poroshok-za-raz-izbavil-nas-ot-mokrits-sdelano-v-rossii
Based on my personal experience, I can say that dichlorvos Varan “Universal” produced by Sibiar OJSC (it seems that it is also produced by Arnest) perfectly deals with cockroaches, fleas and woodlice, but removing the latter is not so easy. It will be very useful for pet owners.
gattanera
https://otzovik.com/review_2342612.html
After a long search on the Internet, I ordered GET. I did everything according to the instructions and sprayed it all over the room. I did all this wearing gloves and a mask. I was lucky that I had the opportunity to leave home and there were no pets or children. After the first treatment, cockroaches and woodlice remained alive for some time, but gradually disappeared.
Svetlana Chi
https://irecommend.ru/content/100-spasenie-ot-etikh-gadov
No. 26. Help from professionals
When all means have been tried, but there is no desired result, there is always a backup option - the help of specialized specialists. Today, many companies and SES provide services for the destruction of indoor pests. What are the advantages of such cooperation?
- The correct medications will be selected (effective against wood lice and safe for people).
- The professionals will accurately calculate the required amount and concentration of funds.
- When working, special equipment is used that allows you to process the most inaccessible places.
- A guarantee is provided against the return of arthropods within a certain period of time.
A way to permanently remove insects: professional disinfection
If you live in an apartment building, and the use of different methods of controlling woodlice does not bring the desired results, you can use the services of specialized companies that disinfect premises.
Professional disinfection of the apartment helps to get rid of harmful insects forever
Ordering a service has the following advantages:
- such services use drugs that are safe for people and pets;
- The disinfection procedure is very effective. After treatment, woodlice will not appear in your home for as long as possible;
- the use of special equipment allows you to neutralize hard-to-reach areas of the apartment;
- In case of pests returning earlier than the guaranteed period, the companies provide re-treatment completely free of charge.
Before the disinfectant arrives, you need to move the furniture away, and after treatment you will have to do a general cleaning.
Preventive measures
Timely cleaning is the norm for any housewife. But a few simple tips will help you restore order and cleanliness in your apartment so that wood lice will avoid it as much as possible.
Moreover, in reality everything is not as complicated as it seems, all you need is:
- Ventilate the room regularly.
- Make sure there is good air ventilation in the rooms. For this you can use a fan or install an air conditioner.
- It is better to dry things on the balcony.
- Do not leave floor cloths wet, make sure they dry completely.
- Monitor the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and prevent them from rotting.
- Do not leave dirty dishes with food leftovers in the sink.
- Take out the trash promptly and keep the trash can clean.
- Periodically treat indoor plants for prevention.
- Carry out a preventive inspection of plumbing and fix problems immediately, without putting it off “for later.”
- Spend sufficient time checking hoods and ventilation.
- Eliminate cracks in the floor and walls.
How to detect?
Quite often the owner of the home has no idea about the existence of uninvited guests. Woodlice love moist air and hide well. They lead an active lifestyle exclusively at night. Most often they can be found in places where wet rags are stored, dark corners, under tiles or baseboards. If water is constantly dripping from the sewer pipes or your neighbors are flooding you, then wood lice will soon appear.
For the life of these insects, special conditions are required, consisting of high air humidity and lack of light. In such a comfortable environment, they multiply quickly and live well. Afterwards they may give the impression of an insect invasion, but this does not last long.
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General recommendations
You can prevent insects from entering your home using preventive measures.
For example:
- Timely cleaning - it is not necessary to clean every tile in the bathroom until it shines to avoid problems. It is enough to wipe the walls and floor after a shower so that moisture does not accumulate on them.
- Timely repairs - you need to whitewash the premises once a year, this will help preserve not only the appearance of the home, but also eliminate problems with insects and their nests.
- Look after the plants in the house. When buying flowers or pots from grandmothers on the street, you should definitely check them for pests.
Compliance with these rules does not require financial investments, only care and labor. However, they are ready to guarantee not only the cleanliness of the space, but also the absence of unwanted guests in the form of insects and fungus.
Saving plants
Woodlice can attack some types of indoor plants. First of all, these are orchids. If rescue measures are not applied, the flower will die in two weeks. The same goes for ferns.
What signs can be used to identify wood lice infestation? The soil in the pot will begin to compact for no apparent reason. Loosen it with a tool and if you see white worms, then that’s it, the flower is infected with woodlice.
It is necessary to loosen the soil of orchids and ferns, otherwise the roots will not receive the required amount of oxygen and will die. Woodlice make the soil dense. Therefore, it is important to take action. To do this, carefully remove the flower from the pot, shake the roots off the ground and wash them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After the plant needs to be planted in new soil. It is best to throw away the used pot, as it can attract woodlice.
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Sprays and aerosols
It is beneficial to use aerosols as a remedy for woodlice in an apartment if a small area is being treated. Such drugs are not long-acting. These include:
"Varan." A new generation drug without odor. It fights not only against woodlice, but also against flying and crawling insects. "Combat". Superspray. Low toxicity for humans and animals. Recommended for use in children's and medical institutions, offices and country houses. From crawling insects.
Concentrates are beneficial for treating large areas. Microencapsulated drugs are highly effective and have a long-lasting effect. Can be purchased in small or large packaging.
"Get." Available in the form of a concentrate. Has a slight odor. It can be used not only against wood lice, it also helps against cockroaches and bedbugs. "Tetrix". A strong remedy. The concentrate must be diluted. One bottle can treat the entire apartment. Long-acting.
Problems and difficulties
You most likely understand that the use of chemicals can be unsafe for health. For this reason, it must be handled very carefully. Of course, after the chemicals have done their work, they need to be swept away well.
Important! If there are children, pets or allergy sufferers in the house, they must be moved from the apartment to another place during the treatment period.
When working with chemicals, use gloves and a mask. Leave the windows open. Just like chlorine, quicklime has a great effect on insects.