Wacky Pest Wednesday: Pill Bugs
Larry Jacobson – Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljguitar/2578309374
Happy Wednesday to all you Tri-County Pest Control fans out there and welcome back to our favorite weekly tradition: Wacky Pest Wednesday! Join us today, as we give you some things that you may not know about the pill bugs!
Pill bugs, roly pollies, sowbugs, doodlebugs, and potato bugs all represents one specific kind of bug. While the only official name for this funny little critter is its scientific name (Armadillidium vulgare), we’re sure that you’ve seen one before. No matter what you call them, these little guys are known for their ability to pack up into a ball when they feel threatened and then use their shape to roll around and escape. Sure, being able to form yourself into your own private unicycle is pretty cool, but there are many more fascinating facts to this bug than just that!
For example, did you know that these bugs are not insects, but rather crustaceans? Believe it or not, this pest has more in common with shrimp than cockroaches; reason is that they breathe through their gills and not through their mouths. That being said, pill bugs need a very moist environment in order to survive, which makes your basement or cabinet under the sink a great place for them to hide.
They may find themselves in love with these damp and dark places, but you don’t need to see these guys as a threat. They’re virtually harmless and they will spend much more time keeping to themselves and eating all sorts of “delicious” rotting vegetation, so you won’t see too much of them. However, just because they don’t pose any physical harm to you or your family does not mean that you need to host them indefinitely. You can cut down on the chances of an infestation by keeping your kitchen and laundry room relatively tidy, but should you be facing a swarm of hundreds of them, call the professionals right away—we’ll take care of your problem as soon as we can.
Well, that wraps it up for this edition of Wacky Pest Wednesday. To learn more about some of the wacky pests of the world, be sure to check back each Wednesday for a new edition!
