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12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pill Bugs (Rollie Pollies)

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14 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pill Bugs (Rollie Pollies)

You may ask: Are pill bugs (rollie pollies) good to have in the garden?

Rollie pollies have their uses by mostly feeding on dead or decaying organic material [1]. However, an infestation can cause problems in the garden, as these critters may also eat seedlings and plant roots.

Moreover, seeing them inside the house means there are likely plenty more outdoors. Below are tips on how to get rid of pill bugs naturally.

1. Beer Trap

Any beer will attract pillbugs. Therefore, fill a plastic cup or bowl with beer and sink it into the ground.

The cup’s rim should align with the ground’s surface so the bugs can crawl in and drown. Remove and replace the beer once you are satisfied with the number of bugs inside.

2. Remove Mulch and Dead Plant Matter 

Pill bugs thrive on rotting vegetables, mulch, and other decomposed plant matter. So, removing these materials from the garden and around the house will deter these creatures.

3. Diatomaceous Earth

Another home remedy to get rid of rollie pollies naturally is diatomaceous earth (DE). Sprinkle it in the vegetable garden and areas of the house where pill bugs congregate.

The sharp edges of the substance will also cut into the critters, dehydrate them, and kill them.

You can also spread it around seedling trays and potted plants. Food-grade diatomaceous earth can also be used to get rid of pill bugs inside the house.

4. Dry Up Moist Areas

Like all living things, a roly poly needs moisture to survive and thrive. As a result, drying up damp areas in the house or where there is run-off from water on the outside walls is essential.

This method will likely be more effective at keeping the home free of these pests than any chemical spray.

5. Garlic Spray

A solution of crushed garlic and water sprayed on and around these pests deters them.

Make a homemade pill bug spray by combining one tablespoon of crushed garlic with a quart of water.

Spray the solution on the pests and in areas where you see them. Garlic spray works well to get rid of pill bugs organically.

6. Potato Trap

Full of moisture and food, roly-poly bugs are easily attracted to this DIY method.

Cut some potatoes in half and spoon away some of the flesh to make depressions in each piece. Next, leave it in the soil or infested areas for a day or two before removing it.

On checking in the morning, plenty of rollie pollies should be underneath the potato bait. Finally, remove the potatoes and bugs and dispose of them.

7. Repellent Plants

Certain plants can help keep rolly pollies out of the garden naturally.

Plants that repel pill bugs include rosemary, marigolds, basil, mint, and chrysanthemums. Utilize these plants as companion plants in the best way possible.

8. Sluggo Plus

This product contains spinosad, an organic insecticide that controls some pests. It targets pill bugs, slugs, sowbugs, earwigs, and snails.

Sluggo also contains iron phosphates that disrupt the feeding patterns of some garden pests, leading to starvation and death. It is considered an organic method of pest control.

Sluggo is in a pelleted formula and comes in a shaker-top container for easy use. If using on the soil, dampen the ground first, then sprinkle the pellets around the targeted area.

However, manufacturers advise not using it more than three times a month and not within three days of harvesting any infected edible plants. Also, apply in the evening for safety and effectiveness.

You can also use it with a slug saloon container for indoor and greenhouse problem areas.

9. Essentria IC-3

This product combines essential oils, including rosemary, peppermint, and geraniol. It has a quick-action knockdown effect on flying insects like horse flies and mosquitoes and a long-term residual effect on crawling pests.

Essentria is powerful, but it is natural and safe to use in the home, in schools, and in public places.

Prepared as directed on the product’s information leaflet, mist the solution around buildings, vehicles, and problem areas.

Essentria will eliminate pill bugs. Moreover, it is effective against many insect pests.

10. Bonide Bug & Slug Killer

Bonide is an excellent product for taking care of a roly-poly infestation. This product kills pill bugs and is effective against certain crawling insects.

Moreover, it comes in pellet form for those who prefer not to spray.

The active ingredients are spinosad and iron phosphate. Although it is not toxic to humans or pets, it can be an irritant. Thus, use it according to the instructions and keep it away from children.

Sprinkle it as a barrier around the areas you want to protect. Reapply after heavy rain or watering.

11. Cornmeal

Another popular natural remedy to get rid of rolly pollies in your garden is cornmeal.

Fill a plastic food bag or container with cornmeal and make holes big enough for the critters to enter.

The ingested cornmeal will kill pill bugs. You can then dispose of the bags and place new ones around infestation areas.

12. Coffee Grounds

This product is a valuable and inexpensive remedy for coffee drinkers who have gardens.

You can spread some used coffee grounds around plants to protect seedlings and young growth.

This remedy is more of a way of deterring the bugs than killing them. Additionally, coffee grounds contain caffeine, which repels ants and other pests.

Use saucers or bowls of coffee grounds near an indoor pill bug infestation to repel them.

13. Neem Oil

Neem oil will also help clear up many pest problems. It is mildly poisonous to pill bugs.

It will also keep fungal plant diseases at bay.

Use it in outdoor gardens, greenhouses, and houseplants. Furthermore, you can obtain it as an organic pest control product.

14. Natural Predators

There are plenty of creatures that prey on pill bugs. Common pill bug predators include frogs, birds, spiders, centipedes, lizards, and ants.

FAQ

Will Soapy Water Kill Pill Bugs?

No, it will not. A soap and water solution will kill small, soft-bodied insects and related pests.

However, it will not harm pill bugs because of their shell-like protective covering.

Does Vinegar Kill Them?

Vinegar can be used to get rid of some pests like ants, fruit flies, and aphids. But its acidity is not potent enough to penetrate the pill bug’s hard, shell-like exoskeleton.

Takeaway

Roly-poly pill bugs feed on dead plants and other organic matter and can serve a useful purpose in the garden. However, they can become a nuisance, often confused with sowbugs (that cannot roll up).

Whether you call them sal bugs, rollie pollie ollie bugs, or ball bugs, these natural methods will help control them.

See also: how to get rid of roaches naturally.

Image via wikimedia.org

Sasha Campbell

Sasha Campbell is an experienced blogger in the organic gardening and natural health niches. She's also a lover of all things natural.

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