The woodlice in the apartment looks like an insect, but in fact it is a crustacean creature that has its own gills. Therefore, it cannot be drowned by water, and it loves to settle in places where there is dampness and a nutrient medium for it. To eliminate such an apartment phenomenon, it is advisable to first worsen the living conditions - do a general cleaning, remove dust from the walls. If insects still continue to appear, then you can use an insecticide - a special remedy against woodlice in the apartment.
- Where do woodlice mostly live?
- Fight and destruction Folk household methods for woodlice
- Chemicals against woodlice
- Tarax
- Schabengel – gel bait
What kind of insect is this?
Woodlice are insects that belong to the suborder Crustaceans , have a rounded body divided into sections (read more about what type, class and order the woodlice belongs to in this article). It includes the head, chest, and also the abdomen. Insects appear throughout the year and are considered most intense in spring and autumn, reproduction occurs in the summer, and it is curious that the female carries her eggs in a sac, on her own body, until she finds a place protected from predators to transfer them.
On a note. Of absolutely all representatives, this is a unique insect that has best adapted to land, however, despite this, they also breathe with gills.
You can learn more about what woodlice look like and what types of this insect there are here.
Biological description
The suborder of woodlice belongs to:
- order of isopods;
- class higher crayfish;
- phylum arthropod;
- the animal kingdom.
The international name accepted in science is Oniscidea.
Habitat
These woodlice are predominantly nocturnal in apartments and live in damp and dark places. Dampness, warmth and a nearby food supply are necessary conditions for their spread.
In nature, woodlice choose the shores of salty or fresh water bodies, deposits of dead wood, litter of leaves in the forest, and stones.
On the farm they prefer gardens, basements, compost heaps, greenhouses, stables, and pigsties. They often enter residential areas.
Appearance, developmental stages and lifespan
Interesting! Typically, woodlice is perceived as an insect in an apartment or house. Some consider them to be bugs. But science classifies higher crayfish as animals.
These crustaceans have eyes on the sides of their heads. Woodlice are characterized by an oval body that is convex at the top and has two pairs of antennae - the highly developed first and underdeveloped second.
The chest legs are adapted for walking - 7 pairs, which are all arranged the same.
Covered with plates that prevent air evaporation, gills are located on the underside of the abdomen. They absorb oxygen through the film of water around them. This type of respiration is physiologically aquatic, but in woodlice it is adapted for terrestrial creatures.
Woodlice live about 1-2 years. During development, a small animal goes through 14 molts before becoming sexually mature.
What do woodlice eat and how do they reproduce?
In the spring - in May or April - copulation of isopods occurs. The seed enters the oviducts of the females. The woodlice molts, its structure changes - the female has a brood chamber. Eggs are subsequently laid there, and a new generation develops there.
During their life, woodlice eat the remains of animals and plants - detritus. But at the same time they can spoil the fruits and vegetables stored within their reach.
Experts consider higher crayfish to be decomposers. The latter perform an important natural function - they destroy dead parts of organic matter into inorganic substances, without leaving excrement.
Causes
Mostly in apartments, woodlice occurs in places where it is damp: under tiles, in basements, bathrooms, under stones, in showers, as well as toilets and cracks.
The duration of their existence is 2-3 years. The insect feeds mainly on decaying plants (very rarely fresh), in some cases they can harm the garden; ferns, orchids, and certain types of cacti suffer more, but their work also helps enrich the soil, supplying it with high-calorie elements. It's not that difficult to catch an insect; it's quite easy to block its path as soon as it stops. Their protective reaction is considered to be that the insects curl up into a ball, with the “shell” facing out, as if pretending to be dead.
The reasons for the appearance of woodlice: in 100 percent of cases it is humidity, since this is an impeccable habitat, and in comfortable conditions they rapidly increase in size and multiply, for example, woodlice are found in the bathroom quite often. Of the 160 registered types of woodlice (and there are about three thousand in total), only a few can tolerate dry air.
Woodlice live in inaccessible areas under the floor, wallpaper, and tiles. The insects themselves can appear from dark corners, crevices, or when storing damp towels or things. If your neighbors are flooded or pipes are leaking, there is a significant possibility that you will find these insects in your apartment.
Woodlice require special atmospheric conditions to appear, but these outbreaks of their invasions do not last long. Woodlice do not prefer light and lead an intense lifestyle at night.
Are woodlice dangerous for humans?
Woodlice do not pose a threat to people because they feed on plants, do not bite, and come out only at night. But if we take into account their habitats, we can talk about a violation of the sanitary conditions of the premises. Woodlice can also destroy part of the crop or indoor plants. The risk group includes orchids, spathiphyllums, cacti and ferns.
Favorite places to live are the bathroom, kitchen, basement and toilet. At the dacha, individuals settle in a greenhouse, where it is humid and warm. If you find woodlice in a bathhouse or other place, you should get rid of them immediately. Regardless of whether the apartment, dacha or outbuildings are affected, both professional and folk methods of control can be used. The products are available in a variety of forms and differ in effectiveness, cost and availability.
Fight on your own or call in specialists?
In pest control, not all means without exception are excellent - some are completely in vain. For example, at the dacha, an independent fight against them only leads to a fleeting improvement in the situation. Even if numerous crustaceans fall into traps or are attacked by insecticide, enough of them remain in the corners to continue to actively worsen your life.
It is important to approach the solution of the problem together. Only highly qualified exterminators specifically understand how and with what to poison woodlice so that they disappear forever.
We get rid of it using different means
We'll tell you how to remove insects at home.
Chemical
Currently, in the assortment it is possible to find special products aimed not only against woodlice, but also other household pests. More popular: “Dichlorvos”, “Tetrix”, “Mole”, etc. In addition to those mentioned, the gel from the German manufacturer Schabengel can be of great help. It is essentially considered a poisonous bait for crustaceans. Multifunctional, used for almost all parasites.
Important! Remember that the direct use of such substances is quite unsafe; for this reason, you should carefully follow the instructions and take all measures so that children and animals can be safely in the room.
The apartment must be ventilated and the treated surfaces must be washed after the specified time.
What else can you do to remove unpleasant crustaceans?
Folk
How else can you kill woodlice? Folk methods are no less effective ; they are, first of all, the cheapest, and not dangerous. The destruction of insects using folk remedies is also possible quickly, similar to the use of poisons.
Let's look at the main methods of how to get rid of wood lice using traditional methods:
- A liquid composition of kvass and boiling water - in a ratio of 100 grams per half liter, is sprayed around the room. After a day it is already possible to wash it off.
- Boric acid - the composition is prepared in the same proportion as kvass, the method of use is similar.
- Chlorine - diluted with water in a ratio of 40 grams per liter of water; all floors and walls must be treated with the substance.
- You will need a mixture of half a teaspoon of pepper, soda, tobacco - diluted in a liter of water, then cultivate the main places where wood lice accumulate, and after some time it is necessary to rinse with water and chlorine.
- Salt is poured into corners and crevices.
- birch brooms in the corners all night, for wood lice they act like a trap; in the morning, brooms with insects must be thrown away.
- Potatoes - a lobe hole is made in this vegetable; the finished trap must be placed in a place where insects accumulate. During the night, a large number of individuals climb into the potatoes, and in the morning the trap is thrown out.
- Lime is a very effective method if you have difficulty getting rid of woodlice in your apartment. Quicklime bleach is placed in a bucket, and the container is extinguished with water. After the manipulations, you must close the door tightly and not enter the room for several days.
On a note. Any of the methods negatively affects the habitat of insects, for this reason, most likely, they will definitely leave the occupied zone.
However, if the reason why woodlice live in a given area is not eliminated in a timely manner, then it is necessary to be prepared for a new invasion of small uninvited neighbors.
Now you know how to destroy unpleasant insects.
Step-by-step instructions on how to get rid of it at home
Let's take a closer look at how and with what you can kill these arthropods in order to remove them from your home forever.
Chemicals
The following types of chemicals can be used against woodlice:
- Aerosols. It is advisable to use them in the case of a slight spread of woodlice and their habitat in small areas, otherwise one can of the product will not be enough, and treating the room will result in a fairly large amount of money. The most popular means:
- Dichlorvos (cost from 70 to 150 rubles);
- "Raptor" (about 200 rubles);
- “Varan” (45-100 rubles).
- Concentrates. Suitable for treating large spaces, being highly efficient and economical. The most common drugs:
- "Tetrix" (from 2000 rubles for 250 ml);
- “Get” (from 400 to 1000 rubles);
- “Cucaracha” (from 400 to 1500 rubles).
- Powders. “Phenaxin” (20-50 rubles), “Tarax” (80 rubles) - these drugs should be sprinkled on baseboards and the area under the bathroom; it is better to use them as additional methods of control.
- Pencils. A quick and easy way to control woodlice. The most popular means:
- “Mashenka” (16-50 rubles);
- "Titanic" (20-50 rubles).
- Gels. The main disadvantage of such funds is the long period of onset of action. Particularly popular brands are:
- “Absolute” (from 20 to 100 rubles);
- “Fas” (from 25 rubles for 35 ml).
- Traps. Less effective than previous remedies, it is better to use it as a preventive measure. “Raptor” is more often in demand (150-250 rubles).
Important! Many chemicals produce an immediate effect, but are dangerous to human health.
Traditional methods
These methods include:
- bleach – dilute 40-50 grams of bleach per 1 liter of water, use the solution to treat walls and floors indoors;
- dry kvass - the product is mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 5, the solution should be treated in all places where pests live;
- vinegar - it must be mixed with water and treated with this solution in the habitats of wood lice;
- dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. red pepper, tobacco and soda, spray the pest habitats with this solution, rinse off after 8 hours with water and bleach;
- salt - you need to pour it in the corners of the room, into all the cracks and under the baseboards;
- alum - you need to dissolve 100 g of the product in 1/2 liter of water, spray it in places in the apartment where wood lice have appeared;
- exposure to temperature - crustaceans die from exposure to steam, hot air or extreme cold.
A few more folk methods of fighting woodlice:
Professional disinfection
You just need to choose an organization based on reviews, the means they use and the cost of services and agree on the time of their arrival. This is the most cost-effective method, but it is also the most effective and safe.
Photo
In the photo you can see how to deal with insects in your home.
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.
Prevention
It is known that woodlice prefer water. In order to prevent the secondary occurrence of insects, you should monitor the level of moisture in the house . Useful tips:
- After hydrophytic operations, constantly ventilate the bathroom or leave it open.
- Wipe the surfaces in the room dry once a day.
- Carry out thorough cleaning in the bathroom, paying special attention to the areas under the bathtub, toilet, and sink.
- If you have house plants, make sure that there is no accumulation of excess water in the trays.
- Take out garbage every day.
- It is better to dry clothes on the balcony or outside, but not in the bathroom.
- Eliminate leaks in a timely manner, seal gaps and cracks in the walls.
- Install a hood in the bathroom.
Methods of entering human habitation
Residential premises located closer to basements are primarily at risk. Crustaceans are able to move through ventilation systems, openings for pipelines and sewers.
Unnoticeable woodlice can sneak into a house along with flower pots and household utensils placed outside. Grocery stores, basement or ground floor warehouses, attached garages and closets can also be sources of pests.
A greenhouse or conservatory located next to the house is an ideal environment for the appearance of arthropods. To get rid of wood lice forever, you need to choose the right place to build your garden structures.
What if they appear again?
Even if you cope with the insects, but do not remove the root cause of their appearance, they will soon visit you again. In order to completely get rid of these crustaceans, it is necessary to regularly keep the apartment clean, frequently ventilate the room, and avoid the appearance of dampness on the floors and walls.
Without moisture, insects will disappear. For this reason, thoroughly dry the room and make sure that the pipes are not damp or leaking.
Watch a video on the topic:
Woodlice are the ancestors of crustaceans that developed in an aquatic environment and then moved to land. Certain species have adapted to different habitats, so they can survive in any conditions. On our website you will find useful information about the most common varieties of woodlice, including the white one.
What do woodlice look like that live in apartments and houses?
Woodlice are different. The most common woodlice found in our homes are the common woodlice and the rough woodlice. They have an oblong body, divided into several segments, each of which has a pair of legs. An adult woodlice can reach a length of 20 mm.
Woodlice reproduce quite quickly, laying eggs.
- The most famous species is the common woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare). She has a dark body color and a high shell. Favorite habitats are damp basements and cellars of private houses. At the slightest disturbance, this type of woodlice curls up into a miniature ball.
- The second most common species is the rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber). She lives mainly in apartments. Distinctive features of this variety:
- carapace with a reddish tint;
- ability to crawl quickly;
- lack of ability to roll into a ball.
Penetrating into houses and greenhouses, woodlice can cause significant damage to agricultural products. For this reason, they are unwelcome guests not only in apartments, but also on farms, gardens and orchards.
