Pillbugs & Sowbugs
Order Isopoda (“roly-polies”)
The little gray armored “roly-polies” under every flower pot and stone — not insects at all, but land crustaceans that wander in from damp ground and quickly dry out and die indoors.
How to identify them
Pillbugs and sowbugs are small, gray, segmented, armored-looking creatures with seven pairs of legs. Pillbugs (“roly-polies”) roll into a tight ball when disturbed; sowbugs are similar but cannot roll up and have two small tail-like appendages. Both are crustaceans — more closely related to shrimp than to insects — and both need constant moisture.
Behavior and biology in South Florida
These isopods live in damp, dark places — under mulch, stones, flower pots, logs, and leaf litter — where they feed on decaying plant matter and play a useful role in breaking down organic material. They breathe through gill-like structures and must stay moist to survive.
They wander indoors from a damp perimeter, especially where mulch or ground cover meets the foundation, turning up in garages, bathrooms, and along baseboards. The good news: indoor air is too dry for them, so those that get inside dry out and die within a day or two — they cannot establish indoors.
Signs of an infestation
- Gray, segmented “roly-polies” under pots, mulch, and stones
- Dead or slow-moving pillbugs along garage and foundation walls indoors
- Activity where damp mulch or ground cover meets the house
- More sightings in wet weather
Why they are a problem
Pillbugs and sowbugs do not bite, sting, spread disease, or damage sound structures — indoors they are strictly a nuisance, and a self-limiting one since they die in dry conditions. Outdoors, very large populations can occasionally nibble seedlings and soft fruit, but mostly they are harmless decomposers.
How Bugsy’s treats pillbugs and sowbugs
Since these pests live and breed in the damp perimeter, control is about that zone: our technicians treat mulch beds, foundation edges, and ground cover, apply a targeted exterior barrier, and seal the ground-level gaps they wander through. Reducing moisture and harborage against the house is the lasting fix.
Preventing pillbugs and sowbugs
- Keep mulch and ground cover pulled back from the foundation
- Improve drainage and reduce damp harborage near the house
- Seal gaps under doors, garage thresholds, and along the foundation
- Move pots, stones, and wood off the ground and away from walls
- Water landscaping in the morning so beds are not damp overnight
At a glance
Land crustaceanMoisture-boundHarmlessPerimeter wanderer
Quick facts
Roly-polies wandering into the garage and baths?
Pillbugs come from the damp perimeter. Get a free inspection and a plan to dry and seal them out.
Educational information for South Florida homeowners. Identification and treatment are confirmed by a licensed Bugsy’s technician on site.
