Pill bug is also known as roly poly bug in the US and woodlice in the UK. They are related to crayfish and feed at night. It is called roly poly because of its ability to roll into ball when disturbed. The best known species in the family Armadillidiidae is Armadillidium vulgare, the well-known pill bug.
It is a widespread species of woodlouse in Europe which was then introduced to America. Pill bug is a crustacean in the order Isopoda. They feed on rotten wood and decaying vegetables matter in cool and damp areas.
Overall, they play an important role in decomposition process. They hide under trash during the day and feed on decayed organic matter during the night. However, pill bugs infestations in greenhouse can damage seedlings, developing roots, bottom leaves and fruits and vegetables laying directly on the ground.
So, how to get rid of roly poly (pill) bugs in a greenhouse?
The best way to get rid of roly poly bugs (woodlice) naturally is to destroy their habitat – remove dead leaves, fallen fruits and weeds in a greenhouse. Then spray pill bugs infestation areas with a solution of 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper and 2 tablespoons of mild detergent in 1 gallon of water.
How to keep roly poly bugs out of greenhouse?
1. Spot clean your greenhouse
Roly poly bugs feed on decomposing matter and live in cool and moist conditions. To keep pill bugs away from your garden or greenhouse you need to make sure to clean out garden debris, leaf piles, fallen fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.
Also, as a rule of thumb, you need to deep clean a greenhouse at least once a year. That includes removing everything from the structure outside and washing it down with soapy water. Check out my greenhouse cleaning routine for more tips and tricks.
2. Maintain wooden greenhouse frame
Pill bugs or woodlice eat damp, soft and rotten wood. So if you have a wooden greenhouse it is very important to look after it as well. Pill bugs are very good at hiding. They can roll into ball and hide under leaves, pots, dead leaves, mulch and in the crack and corners of the frame.
That is why you need to clean greenhouse frame too. For a wooden greenhouse frame use sponges and rags with soapy water. Also, an essential part of wooden frame maintenance is reapplying stain every other year to prevent wood rot. To clean aluminum greenhouse frame use soft cloth with warm soapy water to scrub the surface.
Tip: T section bars are hiding spots for pests in aluminum greenhouse frame.
If you need more information on how to maintain greenhouse structure, you can check out this post.
3. Improve air circulation around plants
It is very important to ensure that there is adequate air circulation around plants and they are not overcrowded. If they are, pests can spread from plant to plant quicker and cause more damage. That’s why is it necessary to use support like trellises for vines.
Also, you need to lift raising fruits like strawberries and melons of the ground. Natural ventilation should be enough for a hobby greenhouse but for a commercial structure you need to consider other types of ventilation. Don’t forget that it is also important to ventilate greenhouse in winter.
4. Decrease humidity in a greenhouse
Roly poly bugs prefer to hide and feed in damp areas. That is why it is important to monitor humidity in a greenhouse. To do so you need to get a hygrometer. Check the readings daily. If you noticed water droplets on plant leaves, the relative humidity inside the greenhouse is high. Find out how to get rid of condensation in this article.
Moreover, you need to make sure that the surface next to plants doesn’t remain damp for long period of time. To prevent that you need to cover the soil around the plants with mulch. Choose mulch that is coarse enough and will pass water through easily without forming ponds of water on top of the soil.
Apart from pill bugs, greenhouse is a favorite spot for aphids and caterpillars to chew on plant leaves and leaving holes in them. Moreover, they really like to eat tomato plants and can be the reason why tomato plant leaves are turning yellow.
If that is the case on your greenhouse, you need to get rid of tomato bugs inside the structure immediately. However, there aren’t only bad insects withing the structure that can damage plants. Some of them are actually beneficial and protect plants from damaging insects.
For example, spiders are doing a great job of hunting on whiteflies, aphids, armyworms, leafhoppers, flea-hoppers, leafminers and spider mites. If you are not sure what insects are good or bad in a greenhouse, feel free to reach out to me!
Happy growing!
