A single woodlouse, (pea bugs and roly-polies are also commonly used names due to the woodlouse’s ability to roll itself into a ball when in danger) may not bother you too much, however, an infestation of woodlice (the plural for woodlouse) is usually a sign that your home has sufficient damp and decaying wood for them …
How do you get rid of Slaters?
Iron chelate based snail pellets are also effective against slaters. They’re safe for pets and break down into iron to feed plants. In larger gardens, rotating chooks over vegie beds in between crops is a great way to clear up infestation and provide your birds with a serious protein fix.
What conditions do Slaters like?
Slaters need damp conditions, and will die if exposed to open and dry situations. Because of this, they tend to be active at night when the risk of dehydration is low. They spend most time seeking refuge under stubble, clods or in deep soil cracks, where they feed on rotting vegetation.
Are Slaters bad for lawn?
Just like worms, slaters are great for your garden as they eat organic matter and return nutrients to the soil. Having a few slaters around will keep your plants happy and healthy. … You’ll find them under logs, rocks, leaf matter, compost, pot plants and amongst mulched areas of your garden.
Why do Slaters roll into a ball?
They roll into a ball to protect themselves from harm. They can live in extreme environments such as the desert and even Antartica. There are around 3000 different species of slaters. Slaters have an exoskeleton that they shed as they grow.
Where do Slater bugs come from?
Slaters are a multi-legged, land-living crustacean found all over Australia. They are known as Wood Lice, Pill Bugs and Roley Poleys. They’re scavengers, which mean they mainly feed on decaying organic matter and, in doing so, recycle nutrients and help build soil.
Where do Slaters like to live?
Woodlice like damp, dark places and can be found hiding in walls, under stones and in compost heaps. Some species such as the common sea slater are only found on the coast.
Do woodlice do any harm?
These tiny creatures aren’t dangerous. They don’t sting, bite or transmit any disease, and they don’t cause material damage. Another plus: they aren’t attracted to our food. These miniature crustaceans are also a favourite food of many animals—and, in some parts of the world, of humans as well.
How do Slaters breathe?
Woodlice are also known as slaters, sow bugs, or pill bugs. … While most crustaceans live in water, woodlice live on land but breathe through gills like fish. Their gills need to be covered with a thin layer of water to work well, so they prefer to live in places with a lot of moisture.
What is a Slater bug?
Woodlice are one of the few land crustaceans. They have oval, grey, segmented bodies 10-15mm long, with 14 legs and prominent antennae. Common names include ‘slaters’, ‘sow-bugs’ and ‘pill-bugs’. … Woodlice are harmless feeders upon rotten wood or other vegetable matter in cool, damp areas.
Where do woodlice lay their eggs?
Female woodlice have a ‘brood pouch’ similar to kangaroos. The mother lays her eggs into the pouch and her offspring hatch inside. Even when they have left the pouch, the mother stays close to her young for a few months until they mature.
Why is the outside of my house covered in woodlice?
Normally, damp areas attract woodlice but in most cases, these crustaceans enter your home by accident and are found just wandering around. … Woodlice may be found anywhere in your home but most commonly will be found on the ground floor having entered via poor seals around doors and windows or through air vents.
How do I get rid of Slaters in my garden?
You can easily outsmart them by putting collars made of a slippery material, like old plastic stormwater piping, around tender plants. Press the collars into the soil around 2cm deep and it will deter slaters, then you can remove the barriers once the plants’ stems have hardened up enough to no longer be appealing!
Can woodlice climb walls?
A Woodlice tend to nibble stems, aerial roots and growing points. … In cold weather, woodlice shelter deep in the soil, but in more suitable conditions they will climb trees and walls, entering buildings. In fact, they often move into greenhouses and sheds to escape autumn frosts.
Do Slaters damage plants?
They help the breakdown of organic matter and can be at low population densities. At high densities, they can damage new seedlings and ripe fruit, such as strawberries in contact with the ground. Orchid growers report slaters feeding on the roots and damaging the growing tips of plants.
Do woodlice eat strawberries?
Nothing beats freshly picked strawberries in the summer, ideally smothered with cream and enjoyed outside when the sun pops out. But woodlice can ruin your plans for a fruit-filled summer, as these little pests can quickly much through your carefully grown strawberry patch.
How do I get rid of Slaters in my house?
How to get rid of woodlice in your home
- Vacuum them up. This is the simplest way to deal with a woodlice invasion and the first stage to getting rid of them in your home. …
- Anti-insect spray. Use an anti-insect spray in the areas where you are finding the woodlice. …
- Seal up the holes. …
- Try an electronic pulsing device.
How do you tell if a Slater is a boy or girl?
The only reliable way to sex a roly-poly is to turn it over and look at the critter’s underside — which is pretty difficult to do with something named for its ability to roll into a tight ball. Females have growths on some legs that resemble leaves.
Do all Slaters roll into a ball?
They are called Isopods, commonly known as slaters, woodlice or pillbugs. These are related to aquatic crustaceans such as shrimps and because of this, they are less well adapted to terrestrial life than insects. … The other sort is the woodlouse or slater which is more flattened and cannot roll up into a ball.
Do woodlice drown in water?
Tip: Woodlice can drown in water, so don’t put a water dish in its habitat or spray until there are puddles. Give the woodlice fresh produce. Although the woodlice can eat the leaves that you put in their habitat, they’ll need produce to nibble on.
What is a cheesy Bob?
In Guildford, England, woodlice are known as ‘cheesy bobs’. … Woodlice have a ridiculous number of common names.
What’s eating my grass?
Grubs (beetle larvae)
Among the most damaging of all lawn pests, white grubs (Phyllophaga species) are the larvae of a wide variety of scarab beetles, including masked chafers and Japanese beetles. In the spring, summer and early fall, these plump, c-shaped larvae feast on lawn grass roots just below the soil surface.
Can you keep a woodlouse as a pet?
Some people may not regard woodlice as the most stimulating of pets, but most species breed readily in captivity and make an interesting addition to a classroom or laboratory display. Ideal containers are clear plastic sandwich boxes containing a thin layer of soil, a few pieces of bark and some leaf litter.