How Long Do Wood Lice Live?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Adult woodlice live

approximately two years

, and they molt irregularly throughout their lifetime.

What causes woodlice in the house?

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 long does a wood louse live?

The woodlouse has an average lifespan of

around 2 years but some are known to get up to 4 years old

. The woodlouse is the only species of crustacean to inhabit inland and not watery habitats. There are thought to be over 3,000 different species of woodlouse around the world.

How do you get rid of wood lice in the home?

  1. Clean out the gutter on your roof. …
  2. Remove anything that could be considered a good spot for woodlice around your home. …
  3. Use an electronic pulse to drive woodlice out of your home. …
  4. Use a chemical killer for woodlice you can buy at a home improvement store or online.

Should I kill wood lice?

Many gardeners will destroy woodlice when finding them by squashing the bug, but this is not necessary and they certainly do not deserve it as they do not cause harm. In fact, many woodlice species have been considered beneficial with

medicinal

value.

Do woodlice live in nests?

How do woodlice enter the home? Commonly, you’ll find woodlice in the garden instead of inside the home — they

usually live under rocks and stone

, in the cold, dark soil. … Woodlice thrive in moist conditions, so they don’t usually survive long inside thanks to our tendency to maintain a dry, warm indoor environment.

How do I get rid of woodlice in my plant pots?

Woodlice trap – pieces of cut potato, orange peels, strawberries and grated cheese, wrapped up in a damp newspaper. Put the bait in a damp area of your garden and leave it until woodlice come to infest it. After they do,

just collect the trap and dispose of it

.

What spray kills woodlice?

Insecticide sprays are one of the most common method for controlling woodlice. Most woodlice killer insecticides contain strong active ingredients such as

Permethrin, Tetramethrin or Cypermethrin

to a control woodlice infestation.

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.

Will Salt Kill woodlice?


Pouring salt barriers across doorways can cause the woodlice to dehydrate when entering the home

, resulting in their death. Another natural method to remove woodlice is to bait the pest before discarding them outdoors.

Do woodlice bite?

Bites by the woodlouse spider, Dysdera crocata, are

virtually innocuous

. The main symptom is minor pain, typically lasting less than 1h, probably due mostly to mechanical puncture of the skin.

How do you get rid of a woodlice infestation?

  1. Vacuum or sweep them up. This is the simplest way to deal with dead or dried up woodlice. …
  2. Seal up insect-sized entry points to your home. You may see small gaps around doors or windows or there could be open cracks in rotten timber. …
  3. Use an insecticide.

Where do woodlice lay their eggs?

The female woodlouse lays around 24 eggs which she keeps

inside a brood pouch

. The woodlouse eggs hatch after an incubation period of just a few days exposing the woodlouse babies.

Do woodlice smell?

Woodlice eat rotting plants, fungi and their own faeces, but they don’t pee! They get rid of their waste by producing strong-smelling chemical called

ammonia

, which passes out through their shells as a gas.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.