Sow Bug

Identification

Sow bugs are small, gray, oval-shaped creatures that are often found in moist and dark places and are sometimes seen in Madison Wisconsin. They are not insects, but crustaceans, which means they are related to shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. They have seven pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae, and two tail-like appendages at the end of their body. They are sometimes confused with pill bugs, which look similar but can roll up into a ball when disturbed. Sow bugs cannot do this.

Lifecycle

Sow bugs have a simple life cycle that consists of three stages: egg, juvenile, and adult. The female sow bug carries her eggs in a pouch under her body, called a marsupium. She can produce up to three broods per year, each containing about 24 eggs. The eggs hatch after three to nine weeks, and the young sow bugs stay in the pouch for a few more days before leaving. The juveniles look like miniature adults, but they molt several times as they grow. They reach sexual maturity in about a year and can live up to two years.

Conditions Conducive to Survival

Sow bugs need moist environments to survive, because they breathe through gills that must be kept wet. They are scavengers that feed on decaying organic matter, such as leaves, wood, or compost. They are active mostly at night, and hide under rocks, logs, mulch, pots, or other objects during the day. They prefer cool and humid places and avoid direct sunlight and heat. Sow bugs are harmless to humans and plants, but they can be a nuisance if they enter buildings in large numbers. They usually do this when their outdoor habitats become too dry or crowded.

Control Strategies

The best way to prevent or reduce sow bug infestations is to eliminate their sources of moisture and shelter. Here are some tips to follow:

Clean up around your home and garden. Remove vegetation and other organic matter such as rotting wood or clippings from the soil surface around the foundation of your home. Rake up and dispose of any fallen or ripe fruits from trees that may attract sow bugs.

Seal up any cracks or openings that may allow sow bugs to enter your home. Caulk or seal expansion joints and gaps outside and along the basement floor.

Reduce watering near the foundation as well as in the garden. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of sprinklers to avoid creating wet conditions.

Fun Facts

• Sow bugs do not urinate. Instead, they release ammonia gas through their exoskeleton.
• Sow bugs can drink water through their anus. They have special structures called uropods that can absorb water from the air or the ground.
• Sow bugs eat their own poop. This helps them recycle copper, an essential element that they lose when they defecate.
• Sow bugs can reproduce by parthenogenesis, which means they can produce offspring without mating with a male.
• Sow bugs are also known as woodlice, roly-polies and potato bugs.

If your home or business is being invaded by sow bugs, call the Experts Today for an honest quote and evaluation to meet your specific needs!

Kwik Kill Services to control Sow Bugs

• Home Protection Program
• Insect & Rodent Combo Package
• One-Time Pest Control Services

Additional Information:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/sowbugs/
https://extension.umn.edu/insect-relatives/sowbugs-millipedes-and-centipedes
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/general-curiosity-insects/relatives/medium/sowbugs.html