There are many insects on our planet. Each species lives in one environment or another, and some live next to us. There are some that need moisture to live. They find it next to a person in apartments and houses. Any living organisms require certain conditions to reproduce. Thus, excessive humidity in the room can contribute to the appearance of woodlice. We will consider further how harmful and dangerous they are for humans, as well as what remedies exist for woodlice in an apartment.
Woodlice in the apartment
Woodlice is a crustacean. Its slightly convex oval body has antennae and is divided into segments. Eyes on the sides of the head. It has 7 pairs of thoracic legs, which cover each other in a tiled manner and correspond to each segment, as well as antennae, one pair of which is developed, the other is underdeveloped.
If woodlice sense danger, they curl up into a ball. They live on land, but in places where moisture accumulates. Under wet stones lying on the ground, trees. The dark time of day suits them for hunting. Decaying plants and microorganisms are used for food. They can also feed on ordinary young plants.
The apartment may have:
In indoor flowers, in flower pallets.
In bathroom. In places where pipes and plumbing leak. In a damp room, basement. Under the tiles, in the bathroom or kitchen. Under the peeled wallpaper. In a place where vegetables are stored. Near and in the trash can.
Woodlice can appear in an apartment, even if there is no dampness. They come from neighbors, from basements.
Can penetrate:
Through cracks in the floor, in the walls, from under the baseboard. Through the room ventilation system. Through openings for water pipes and sewer pipes. Through sockets.
What kind of insect is this - woodlice?
It is quite easy to recognize woodlice. Focus on the following external signs, and you will understand that this is not some kind of mutant, but a woodlice:
- light gray beetle carapace with a bluish tint; there are individuals with a brown-brown or marble-gray tint;
- the size of the bugs is from 20 mm to 1 cm , depending on age;
- the surface of the shell is segmented;
- small antennae bent in half;
- 7 pairs of legs;
- They crawl quite slowly compared to cockroaches.
The favorite habitat of woodlice is a damp area of the room . That's why they are so often found where people use water:
- in the kitchen;
- in the bathroom ;
- in any other places inside the house, where abandoned damp rags lie, in crumpled bags, old damp newspapers;
- under the windowsill if your windows often condense (“cry”);
- near plumbing pipes where condensation accumulates;
- in places where mold or mildew has appeared in the apartment on the walls, baseboards, etc.;
- near garbage chutes in apartment buildings;
- near a water pump in the courtyard of a country house;
- under the stones near the well ;
- in cellars ;
- in garages ;
- in barns;
- under old bricks and so on.
Woodlice feed on plants that have already begun to decompose, rotting fruits and vegetables, and love to visit trash cans where there is plant debris. High humidity is a natural condition and a completely normal environment for woodlice.
Why are woodlice harmful?
Let's consider what harm these representatives of the animal world can cause:
They cause harm to indoor moisture-loving plants. By destroying rotting plants and decaying microorganisms, they can become a source of the spread of fungus and infection. Vegetables are damaged in cellars.
Woodlice can appear directly in a flower pot, for example, for an orchid. The flower will die. In the place where potatoes and vegetables are stored, wood lice appear and spoil the harvest. They will feed on rot.
Anyone can benefit from information on how to deal with these pests. What is the best remedy for woodlice in an apartment?
Is it worth exterminating woodlice?
Many people underestimate the danger posed by woodlice infestations. These insects do not bite, so most people think that they are harmless to humans. But in fact, this is not entirely true, and even the most common woodlice in small quantities can cause great harm to humans .
These insects often travel through sewers and garbage disposals. If they appear in a residential area, they bring with them a whole bunch of infection that can settle on food. But that's not all! Woodlice eat onions, carrots and other vegetables, making them unsuitable for food. In addition, these insects can damage indoor plants.
Woodlice are far from being cute and harmless insects, but a huge problem that can lead to serious illnesses, so every effort must be made to get rid of these pests.
Let's start with cleaning
If you find woodlice, you need to start cleaning. It is recommended to do the following:
If there are wood lice, it means that there is excessive dampness in this place. You must use an air conditioner or fan. This is necessary in order to dry a room or a certain area. When cleaning, be sure to ventilate the room. Pay attention to the pipes, maybe moisture is accumulating somewhere or there is a leak.
If there are animals in the house, look under the bathtub and sofas, in case something is hidden there and has already begun to decompose. This is an ideal food for woodlice. If you decide to renovate, it is best to get rid of woodlice first, using home remedies, or call a professional. After killing the woodlice, it is good to fill the cracks in the floor and baseboards with sealant. Moisture will not penetrate from under the floor, and new woodlice will not appear.
One of the important points is the choice of an effective remedy for woodlice in the apartment. We will tell you further how to get rid of them using chemicals and traditional methods.
Why are they dangerous for people?
Since wood lice do not attack or bite humans , they feed exclusively on rotting plants and not fresh ones, they do not spoil indoor flowers, do not drink human blood, do not harm water, which means they cannot be carriers of pathogens of dangerous diseases . Of course, if you yourself do not often take small crustaceans, and then forget to wash your hands with soap. You can only get rid of woodlice if you get rid of the source of dampness . To do this, you can simply check the serviceability of the plumbing, insulate the places where condensation accumulates, ask for silicone sealing of cracks and cracks, or simply purchase a moisture absorber and periodically ventilate the room.
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.
TOP 5 means of combating woodlice
In addition to all kinds of folk remedies for getting rid of these bugs, special means are also used that are commercially available to the public for independent use, without the involvement of professionals in the field of pest control. Let's consider the most relevant of them.
Tarax
- The drug is universal and is capable of destroying not only woodlice, but also cockroaches, bedbugs, ants and fleas.
- The product relatively recently appeared on the insecticide market.
- One gram of powder can effectively up to 60 sq.m. “Tarax” is notable for the fact that it does not cause the notorious habituation of insects to the components contained in its composition, which increases its degree of active influence on pests and efficiency.
- Package 1 gr. powder is dissolved in water (200 ml - a glass) and the insect-affected area is treated with a spray bottle or sponge. Price – 80 rub.
Review: Natalya Ivanovna, Moscow
We removed woodlice under our bathtub using Tarax. We were very pleased with this drug. No poisoning was observed. The drug does not seem to be very toxic. The woodlice died immediately within a few hours. I recommend to all.
Scabengel
- This is a bait gel, which comes in a very convenient package - a syringe with the drug , ready for use.
- A thin stream in the form of a strip of gel is able to penetrate into the most inaccessible places , which creates maximum comfort in using such a drug.
- The consumption of one 30 g package can cover the treatment of 3 medium-sized rooms. Price – 40-45 rubles.
Review: Svetlana, Moscow
We recently bought an apartment in an old Khrushchev building, where we had to completely replace the plumbing with plastic pipes. It is clear that the old plumbing used to leak, the pipes were old, cast iron, there were a lot of small bugs under them, then I recognized them as woodlice. Since there were too many of them, I had to look for a German-made product - “Schabengel”, I heard that it is very effective. We did everything right, according to the instructions, and the woodlice died within a few hours. Everything worked out very conveniently and quickly.
Varan
- This is a new generation of dichlorvos, which has a universal effect on parasites and other crawling and even flying insects , as well as on bugs such as woodlice.
- It is noteworthy that “Varan” is completely odorless and is not toxic to people and animals.
- Price – from 48 to 100 rubles. and higher depending on the percentage of concentration of the active substance and the volume of the bottle.
Review: Sergey, Leningrad region
I used “Varan” against woodlice in my dacha. The drug worked perfectly, there have been no bugs for six months now. I think they won't appear for a long time. I really liked that this remedy against all kinds of parasites has no odor at all. I already thought that I would have to endure some kind of stench, like Dichlorvos, but it turned out that Varan has no smell at all and is not toxic.
Gett
- The drug Gett has its own analogue - “Master”. Both the analogue and its substitute are a liquid concentrate of high toxicity for fish , so in no case should you work with it near an open aquarium or pond
- the aquarium with something
- for humans and animals.
- The effect of its influence occurs only when the insect comes into contact with Gett microcapsules. Price – 700 rub. (100 ml).
Review: Vitaly, Ekaterinburg
We destroyed all the woodlice, which with their presence often caused us trouble in the kitchen near the trash can. Of course, we had to replace the trap under the sink so it wouldn't leak. And then we dealt with the woodlice using Gett. A friend recommended this product to us and it turned out to be very effective. There is still a little left in the bottle, which will be useful for other insects.
Tetrix
- A very strong and active product against many different household insects.
- The active component of Tetrix is cypermethrin, which is why it kills bedbugs, ticks, fleas and woodlice so quickly and for a long time.
- Complete death of insects is possible only after 2 days .
- The effect of the drug can last up to 70 days .
- The drug is produced in the form of an emulsion in bottles and canisters from 250 ml to 1-5 l.
- Expensive, but very effective drug. The price for a 250 ml glass bottle is about 2,000 rubles, for a 1 liter canister – up to 5,300 rubles, and for a 5 liter canister – 21,000 rubles, 20 liters – 80,000 rubles.
Review: Nikolay Savelievich, Moscow
Since we work with a construction company for finishing work inside apartments, our company is often faced with an invasion of various insects such as wood lice, bedbugs, cockroaches and other harmful insects. In order not to lose our clients, and at the same time our time while waiting for disinfection specialists, we decided to use insect control preparations ourselves. We tried everything, nothing helped. But when we used Tetrix once, we realized that there were no other poisons better than it. We have even begun to include Tetricos treatment in the cost of finishing work in apartments. Clients are happy and we are calm.
How to get rid of woodlice in an apartment:
Powders and crayons
Powders are insecticides that need to be sprayed around the perimeter. Woodlice are often found on walls. Therefore, this type of product is used as an addition to the main method.
The best of them are:
"Tarax." The most effective remedy for wood lice in the apartment. It is diluted in water and applied from a spray bottle. It forms a toxic film that does not immediately affect the pest, but gives it time to infect others. The drug is absolutely safe for people and pets. Does not cause addiction among pests. "Phenaxin". Insecticidal powder. Suitable for flat surfaces. It is necessary to remove pets and children from the premises during treatment. "Riapan." The powder is used to treat areas where wood lice accumulate. A solution of this product diluted with water can be applied to vertical surfaces. After treatment, wet cleaning is required.
Crayons have worked well as a remedy for woodlice in apartments. This is an excellent way to fight cockroaches. The insect walks along the chalk line, and at this moment the insecticide gets on its paws. Apply stripes around the perimeter of the room, along walls, baseboards. Ideal for vertical surfaces. Effective crayons - “Mashenka”, “Titanic”.
What do woodlice look like and where are they found?
The body of the crustacean is made of hard plates. Its length is 2 cm, consists of 7 parts. Each has a pair of legs. It has a dark brown (black) color. The peculiarity of these creatures is that they have gills, but they can also breathe on land. The places where crustaceans like to settle have high humidity.
The following types of woodlice are found in buildings:
- Rough: moves quickly, has a red tint. When in danger, it cannot curl up into a ball.
- Common: black, with a raised shell. Lives in damp places. During the period of threat, it rolls into a ball.
Gels, traps, woodlice baits
Gels can be compared in effectiveness to crayons. They can be used as an additional means of pest control.
Sticky traps are suitable for prevention purposes.
Baits are effective in fighting cockroaches, but they are also suitable as a preventative against woodlice. The most popular are the following:
Schabengel. Can be used against woodlice, ants and cockroaches. Available in the form of a gel bait. Easy to use in hard to reach places. Gel "Raptor". Convenient for application. Easily gets into cracks. Has no smell.
All drugs have a destructive effect on the central nervous system of insects.
Why do woodlice appear?
Woodlice do not carry disease, but they are a common cause of property damage. Usually their appearance begins to be noticeable after the detection of slimy spots. They are gray in color, so they are practically invisible on the carpet and are easy to crush.
The insect is most attracted to damp places - bathrooms, kitchens, toilets. How they get into the house is unknown. As practice shows, even in clean, sealed rooms they can appear in the spring.
If the space is properly cared for, they do not live long, since a dry environment is not suitable for their reproduction.
- However, if the problem arose in a country house or in an abandoned apartment, then wood lice will begin to multiply at a high speed and there will be too many insects.
- They can crawl into a private house from the basement or even an open door while the owner is gardening.
- If we are talking about an apartment where they constantly clean and keep order, then wood lice can come from the basement, as well as from neighbors.
They choose damp corners and hard-to-reach places under rugs and sinks for their activities. They can even find shelter on damp cleaning rags.
Features of the use of chemicals
Before using any of the proposed remedies for woodlice in your apartment, you must:
Study the instructions for the drug. Be sure to ensure no contact with children or pets. Although many manufacturers indicate that the drug is safe for people and pets. When using chemicals, use gloves and a mask when treating the room. Take into account the fact that the number of woodlice may visually increase after treatment; they will begin to crawl chaotically around the apartment. After finishing the treatment, wash the room and ventilate well.
Various preventative methods can be used to prevent woodlice from appearing.
How to remove wood lice from the bathroom
In general, this is a harmless insect that does not pose a serious threat in an isolated case. If there are a lot of woodlice and they are already forming colonies, then the consequences can be different - from the formation of fungal diseases to lichen in household members.
Therefore, it is not worth starting a problem with insects. Here are a large number of life hacks that will help you get rid of unwanted neighbors.
Help from specialists
If you cannot cope with woodlice on your own, we advise you to contact a specialist. This is a sanitary and epidemiological station or organizations that specialize in disinfestation of premises.
The positive aspects of this solution:
Specialists will correctly and thoroughly treat all possible habitats and breeding areas of woodlice. The apartment will be disinfected against woodlice.
Effective and safe means will be used. They are odorless and do not leave marks on furniture. The effect is guaranteed for at least 3 months. If wood lice appear earlier, treatment will be free.
Woodlice - who is it?
Woodlice are part of a large order of crustaceans, but unlike their ancestors they prefer to live on land.
You can distinguish woodlice from other insects that may appear in an apartment by their appearance. An adult has an elongated body, slightly raised upward like a lens. There are two pairs of antennae on the head - one short, the other long, the eyes are located on the sides.
The top of the beetle's body is covered with a chitinous shell, which is divided into separate segments. Each individual is endowed with seven pairs of legs, so it moves quite quickly. The color of the parasite is brownish, light gray, brown.
Home Remedies
How to remove woodlice from an apartment using folk methods? The following time-tested options exist:
- You need to mix the following ingredients:
Red hot pepper, 3 grams. Soda ash, 3 grams. Tobacco mixture, 3 grams.
Dilute the mixture with water and treat the area with woodlice. After 8 hours, wash the areas with bleach.
2. Prepare a solution of boric acid with water (20 grams per 1 liter). Spray the product.
3. Dilute dry kvass (100 grams) in half a liter of hot water. Treat the area.
4. A popular remedy is dry salt. It is scattered in places where wood lice accumulate, under cabinets, behind baseboards.
5. If wood lice have infested flowers, it is necessary to replant the plant by treating the root system.
Causes of wood lice
High humidity and comfortable warm air temperature are two key reasons for the frequent appearance of woodlice in the bathroom and sanitary room. In search of food and favorable habitats, they move through the ventilation and sewer systems, water pipes into apartments.
There are other ways for woodlice to enter an apartment. Sometimes crustaceans are brought into the house on their soles with particles of earth. In the store you can become the “lucky” owner of contaminated soil for indoor plants. Once free, woodlice will quickly increase the population size and occupy secluded corners of the house.
The likelihood of crustacean bugs appearing in rooms with high humidity increases many times if:
- crumbs and other food debris are constantly scattered on the floor;
- Pets’ bowl is always filled with stale food;
- The apartment is rarely wet cleaned;
- In the kitchen, garbage is constantly stored under the sink, and bread crumbs remain on the table.
The small size of the body allows woodlice to penetrate into the smallest crevices. Their appearance is rarely associated with unsatisfactory sanitary conditions. Woodlice are attracted to high humidity, so special attention should be paid to the efficiency of the ventilation system, the presence of damaged pipes and water leaks.
Additional control methods
Several methods of controlling woodlice in an apartment:
Birch brooms are moistened and placed in the corners of the room. A wet broom will definitely attract woodlice. Leave overnight. In the morning, carefully collect the brooms and take them out of the apartment. Can be repeated several times. Make traps for woodlice. You need to use potatoes. Cut out the middle of half. Place the cut on the floor. Leave for a day. Woodlice will collect in wet potatoes. The trap needs to be cleaned of woodlice from time to time. In a room with uninvited guests, leave a bucket of quicklime. Treat the areas where they accumulate with this solution. Do not enter the premises for 3 days.
It should be noted that woodlice do not like:
High air temperature, dry climate. Alkalis and acids. Corrosive substances. Strong odors.
Folk methods of dealing with woodlice
To minimize your own time costs, it is recommended to use chemical poisons and traditional methods together. The only enemy in the natural habitat of woodlice is spiders of the genus Dysdera. These insects purposefully hunt wood lice and are capable of destroying all crustaceans in a short period of time, but using such biological weapons in an apartment, to put it mildly, is not the best option.
Long before the discovery of the table of chemical elements by the great Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev, our great-grandmothers used folk remedies to destroy rodents and birds that were engaged in “stealing” fruit and vegetable products from gardens, not to mention tiny crustaceans - grandmothers got rid of wood lice quickly and effectively.
Let's turn to people's experience. To combat uninvited guests the following were used:
- sagebrush;
- hellebore;
- hogweed
The above plants are poisonous and can cause severe poisoning if handled carelessly!
To expel woodlice from a living space, you can use the following folk recipes:
Mustard powder Powder in the amount of 20 g is infused in 2 liters of water for 24 hours. The resulting suspension is used to water the soil in flower pots, and also apply the product under sinks, toilets, bathtubs and sinks. Pipes with cold water also need to be treated with this composition to prevent woodlice from migrating through them from neighboring rooms.
Red hot pepper Approximately 100 g of pepper is ground in a meat grinder and infused in 1 liter of cold water for 10 days. The infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1/100 and the plants are treated.
Garlic Peeled and chopped garlic cloves weighing 100 g are infused in 2 liters of cold water for 10 days. The infusion is used to treat the places where wood lice are located, as well as the plants they feed on.
Potato trap You need to make a hole in half of the tuber and put the potato in a pot with soil. This is a favorable habitat for woodlice, so they will definitely gather here. All that remains is to periodically clean the trap.
Folk remedies are an excellent alternative to using chemicals to combat woodlice. But it must be said that the effectiveness of many of them is questionable, and some methods are so inconvenient that it is better to abandon them.
Tobacco, salt, pepper A mixture of tobacco, red pepper and salt is diluted in water and the walls and ceiling are wiped with the resulting solution. In addition, salt is used in the form of a saline solution to combat insects. In this case, the wood lice do not die, but they try to avoid the treated areas.
Gasoline and kerosene
Gasoline and kerosene are good for repelling woodlice. However, their smell is very unpleasant and persistent; it will be impossible to tolerate it at home. Moreover, we must not forget that kerosene, gasoline and alcohol, which are also used to combat woodlice, are fire hazardous substances. These products should not be used on walls in the kitchen to avoid fire.
Almost every home has pepper, potatoes, mustard and garlic, which can be used at any time to eliminate unwanted multi-legged guests.
Preventive actions
To avoid having to use chemicals against woodlice in your apartment, it is better to prevent their occurrence. Here are some steps that will help you avoid this problem in your home:
Ventilate the room more often. Take out the trash can. Don't store trash. Wash and disinfect the bucket. Do not leave food out in the open in the kitchen. Fix pipe leaks in a timely manner. The plumbing must be in good working order. Cracks in floors, walls, and around baseboards must be sealed. The inlet and outlet of water and sewer pipes at the points where they connect to the floor and the gaps must be carefully sealed. After the floor in the kitchen and bathroom is washed, it must be wiped without leaving wet areas. It is necessary to thoroughly wash and wipe the floors under beds, closets, and behind sofas.
Clean ventilation shafts regularly. It is better to dry clothes outside, rather than in the bathroom or kitchen. Trays of flower pots should be wiped dry, avoiding stagnation of moisture. Peeled wallpaper must be glued and dried. During periods of high humidity, use dehumidifiers.
Let's summarize how to deal with woodlice in an apartment. First, block all routes of their entry from the outside. Choose an insecticide based on safety for humans and pets. An expensive product does not mean it is effective. Follow the instructions for use of any drug. By following simple prevention methods, you will protect your home not only from woodlice, but also from other unpleasant insects.
Source
Description and photo of woodlice
Woodlice is an oval-shaped insect whose body is covered with a black shell consisting of segments. There are small notches along the contour of the body, and long antennae are located on the head. An adult reaches a length of 0.2-1.5 cm and moves using 7 pairs of legs. In nature, there are more than 250 species of pests, including white woodlice.
Insects are not dangerous to people and animals; they do not bite or spread infections. However, such guests in the apartment are unlikely to make anyone happy, since wood lice eat indoor plants, destroy food supplies, and also climb onto the table and crawl on food in search of food. Insects are especially active at night.
Knowing what woodlice look like, you can quickly identify insects that have appeared in the house and begin timely fight against them
Bugs enter the apartment from basements or attics through ventilation holes and cracks. In search of food, they easily cover long distances and crawl over thresholds and stairs. They choose places with high humidity to live, so they live under the sink or behind pipes in the toilet and bathroom, near the trash can, in pots or trays with flowers.
Preventative work
To prevent the appearance of wood lice, you need to take care of the cleanliness of your home. Do not leave spoiled vegetables in basements and pantries. Dampness is the main reason for the entry of uninvited guests. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain normal humidity in the rooms. Dampness can arise from a faulty ventilation system.
Note: There is a misconception that dehumidifying the air will save you from dampness. However, dry air is even more harmful to humans.
Stands for flower pots should be washed periodically to prevent the accumulation of stuck soil. The accumulation of dirty dishes and garbage can also provoke the appearance of woodlice. It is necessary to monitor the serviceability of plumbing fixtures. If leaks occur, the problem should be quickly resolved.
Any chemical or traditional method will not be able to cope with the problem if the original cause is not eliminated - contaminated soil in flowers, humidity and clutter. With comprehensive implementation of measures and elimination of the causes of occurrence, you can easily get rid of this insect.
What you need to know
What kind of insect
There are more than 3,500 species of woodlice in nature. However, the apartment is mainly inhabited by two species: the armadillo, the rough specimen.
Science classifies woodlice as land crustaceans, although they are least similar to crayfish. But it seems so only at first glance. Let's get to know insects better and find out how to get rid of them.
What do woodlice look like?
Arthropods are usually oval, convex on top, slightly more than 2 cm long. The carapace has characteristic plates, numerous antennae and legs. The eyes are located on the sides. Seven pairs of thoracic legs have the same size, structure and are adapted for rapid movement. The color of the insects varies from dark gray to brown, but white woodlice are also found in houses.
Why is woodlice dangerous?
The main danger lies in the infections that individuals carry. They feed on rotting plants and dead microorganisms, and therefore carry infectious and other diseases to humans. They destroy indoor plants and eat vegetables and fruits.
Whether wood lice bite depends on their species. Individuals living in apartments, distinguished by their lack of shell, bite. But the bite of a woodlice is slightly stronger than a mosquito bite.
Reasons for appearance
The main reason for the appearance of pests in the house is excessive humidity. Therefore, the favorite habitat is the kitchen and bathroom. If pipes are constantly leaking, ventilation is poor, and wet clothes often dry on the radiator, soon expect crustacean insects to appear, as these are the most suitable conditions for their existence. This also includes greenhouses, where there are many plants that need constant watering. Domestic woodlice inhabit flower pots, where they find food in the form of grass, and can be located in linen closets where under-dried laundry lies.
We also recommend reading: Carrot fly: how to fight it, how to get rid of carrot flies in the beds
What is not recommended to do
It is not surprising that when woodlice appear, the real fight against them begins. Every housewife will try by any means to get rid of unpleasant individuals. Both traditional and chemical preparations are used. It is not recommended to use chemical solutions at home. Children, pets, and the entire household may be affected.
If the issue of using medications is finally resolved, be careful. When working with chemicals, wear protective clothing and protect your eyes and respiratory system. Move family members to a safe location. At the end of the process, thoroughly clean the area and ventilate the room.
Prevention of wood lice
Competent prevention will help avoid the reappearance of woodlice in the house. To do this, just follow the basic rules:
- maintain high efficiency of the ventilation system;
- promptly eliminate damage and malfunctions of pipes that lead to moisture accumulation and condensation;
- maintain a high level of cleanliness in the apartment.
Woodlice can enter a human home through any cracks. Treating vents, sewer and water pipes with insecticidal or homemade repellent preparations will help reduce the likelihood of their occurrence.
Research of special means.
If you have tried the methods described above and nothing helps you, then you need to resort to special means. There are several types of funds:
- Chemical;
- Products made independently based on folk recipes.
Chemicals
Advantages of chemicals:
- Highly efficient.
- Fast action.
- Rational use.
Flaws:
- Chemicals contain harmful substances that have a detrimental effect on the health of all family members.
- Price range.
For people who are accustomed to a radical approach to the destruction of parasites, we recommend paying attention to these means:
Insecticidal aerosols.
Product in aerosol packaging for spraying. Advantages of chemicals:
- Have a quick effect;
- They cope well with a small accumulation of insects in your apartment;
- Suitable for small spaces.
Flaws:
- If you have large rooms, then it is better not to use these products; the effect will be minimal.
- You must purchase at least 2 cans.
- If you are cultivating large areas, woodlice may appear again.
Concentrated sprays
The advantage of these sprays is that they are able to cover large areas. The effectiveness of sprays is quite higher than that of aerosols. The higher the dosage, the greater the effectiveness. There are also disadvantages to these sprays. When working with this material, you must follow safety precautions, since these sprays have quite strong toxicity. It is advisable to have chemical protective equipment on hand.
Insecticidal powders
Controlling pests using these means is a fairly effective method. Let's consider their advantages:
- Affordable price.
- Easy to use.
- Good result.
There is one drawback. Here these products are used according to the powder principle. You can cover the floors and baseboards throughout the apartment, but this is not enough for parasites, as they can crawl onto the walls and ceiling.
Crayons
If we compare with powders, then crayons are a good way out of the situation. They can be applied to both walls and ceilings. Operating principle: Knowing where your “pets” live, you circle this place with chalk, and the poison does the rest automatically. Everyone understands that chalk is safer than spray or powder, since after use it is enough to wash your hands with soap and nothing threatens your health.
Sticky insect traps
Traps are best used in conjunction with more effective means. They are a kind of auxiliary or secondary option in the fight against insects. They can help you in the initial stages of detecting “neighbors” in your apartment. If wood lice have established themselves thoroughly in your area, then the traps will not cope without the help of more serious means.
Fumigator
In general, this product is intended to combat mosquitoes and flies (flying insects) that interfere with sleep at night. However, there are remedies that will help you fight woodlice. Before going on the offensive, carefully read the instructions.
Recipes and methods from the people
The advantages of these products are less chemicals, more ecology; less manufacturing costs. What folk remedies are used:
- Boric acid.
- Adding kvass to the composition.
- Use of salt.
- A solution based on birch leaves.
- Water and chlorine.
- A mixture of tobacco, with the addition of pepper and salt.
- Effect of temperature on insects.
Each of the above methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's understand all this below.
Ingredients, with the addition of kvass
Ingredients for preparing the composition: 50 grams of powdered kvass, 200 milliliters of water. Mix the resulting mass well and pour it into a special spray gun. When you have found a place where the infection has accumulated, simply spray the prepared medicine on it.
Boric acid
Preparation of the solution: for one liter of water you need 20 grams of boric acid powder. Mix the ingredients well and apply to the area where wood lice accumulate. If you need to repeat the procedure, do so. For some, one application is enough.
A mixture of tobacco pepper and soda
How to prepare the mixture? Bring a liter of water to a boil. After boiling, add all ingredients one teaspoon at a time and remove from heat. Let the solution sit for about two hours, then treat the infected areas. After some time (3-4 hours), rinse the infected areas with chlorine water.
Salt
Salt will help you fight dampness. It has the property of absorbing excess moisture, which will have a positive effect on your apartment. Just sprinkle salt in places where there is a lot of humidity and the “neighbors” will leave your house themselves.
Birch brooms
The operating principle is equivalent to sticky traps. The smell attracts woodlice. Just leave the brooms for a day in places where parasites accumulate, then simply destroy these brooms.
Potato
A bait that will help you get rid of annoying woodlice. Working principle with potatoes:
- Peel the potatoes.
- Cut it into equal parts.
- We make indentations in the center.
- We put it in a place where woodlice are located.
During the night they climb into existing holes. All you have to do is get rid of the potatoes.
Lime
What areas are best to treat with lime? Garages, basements, storage rooms. Pour quicklime into a bucket and leave for 12 hours. Do not enter this room under any circumstances during this period of time.
Water and chlorine
Take 500 milliliters of water per 20 grams of bleach. How it works: wipe damaged surfaces with this solution. Don't forget to wear gloves.
Temperature effect
As everyone knows, woodlice do not like high temperatures and die quickly. You can use a hair dryer when nothing else is available. Of course, this is not the most convenient way, however, it will help you fight parasites.
Chemicals
If folk remedies do not work, and foreign creatures continue to walk around the house, you should turn to chemical preparations, of which there are a great many on the shelves of household appliance stores. Let's study in more detail how to remove wood lice and use this or that drug.
We also recommend reading: Fleas in the house: where and how to get rid of them, how to remove fleas
Lures
To prepare the bait, toxic substances that are commercially available are used. These include drugs:
- Xulat Micro;
- Lambda Zone;
- Delta Zone.
Egg yolk is used as bait. Having combined the poison and the yolk, the bait is placed where a cluster of crustacean woodlice is noticed. Even the appearance of single individuals visiting the light does not leave them a chance to survive.
Aerosols
The drugs are effective when fighting isolated representatives of arthropods. The contents of the can are sprayed onto crawling insects, and after a few minutes the dead individuals are removed. Aerosol insecticides are harmful to humans. Therefore, respiratory protection is required during processing.
The drugs are especially effective:
- Clean house;
- Combat;
- Raptor;
- Mole;
- Varan.
It should be noted that although the products are popular and well advertised, using them regularly is quite expensive. Moreover, large areas require many cans of insecticide.
Powders
How to use popular powders Clean House, Fenaxin, Riapan to get rid of woodlice. Poison is sprinkled around the perimeter of the room and baseboards. Place it under the sink, pipes, and other hard-to-reach places.
The disadvantage of the drug is that it is impossible to treat walls with dry blemish. However, enterprising housewives found a way out here too. The powder is diluted with water and the vertical surfaces are wiped with the solution.
Crayons
Existing bug chalks are quite effective. High mortality occurs due to the presence of a large number of legs. Walking along the stripes left by a pencil, a toxic substance remains on the paws. And when cleaning the paws of dirt, the poison enters the mouth of the pest, which soon dies. Poisonous stripes are applied along the perimeter of the ceiling and floor, thereby blocking the path of movement of individuals.
Traps
It’s not difficult to understand how to deal with a single woodlice using a trap. They contain adhesive tape to which the arthropods stick forever. Traps are placed in the bathroom, in the kitchen, under the sink, next to the toilet. One copy per 4 square meters is enough. meters.
Users prefer the following names:
- Argus;
- Raptor;
- Global
Some people prefer homemade traps. Moss is used as a trap. It is pre-soaked and placed in the desired corners of the house or basement. Decorate with bait using apples and tomatoes for this purpose. After some time, the moss is burned.
Fumigator
Most often, such products are used for flying insects. But they began to be used as a remedy for woodlice. The greatest effect can be achieved with regular use of the devices.
We also recommend reading: Aphids on indoor plants: how to fight aphids on indoor plants and in the garden
Drastic measures
Sometimes I didn’t want to go to bed because I was overcome by thoughts that when the lights were turned off, vile creatures would begin to walk around the apartment. Every morning and evening I had to inspect the space under the bathroom, behind the toilet, under the trash can, under the cat litter box. And I decided that it was time to act decisively.
You might be interested in: The story of how I cleaned out my house and took 12 bags of trash to the landfill.
The riser and heated towel rail in the bathroom did not heat up, so I went to the housing office. I wrote a statement, and the very next day they became hot. Then I removed everything unnecessary from the bathtub, washed the floors well and called a plumber to remove the bathtub. Yes, it’s expensive, inconvenient, difficult, but it was worth it. The plumbing pipes were surrounded by huge cracks through which woodlice got into the apartment. I washed everything thoroughly, sealed the holes with sealant and grout, and waited. However, I had to go to my mother to wash.
Then I called the repairman again to check the condition of the pipes and plumbing. He said everything was fine.
There were no more woodlice and silverfish. Just in case, I walked around the perimeter of the front door from the entrance with putty, pulled out the ventilation grille and cleaned it, and took my time installing the bathtub. The woodlice didn't bother me anymore.
