Woodlice in the house: Pixabay Woodlice in an apartment is a rather unpleasant neighborhood. These tiny creatures look disgusting and can become a source of infectious disease in humans. If wood lice appear in the house, you need to get rid of them immediately. Advice from experts in the field of housekeeping will help in this difficult task.
Woodlouse – video, description
By the way, almost everyone who has studied biology for a long time is sure that woodlice is an insect. Meanwhile, woodlice is a representative of the class of crustaceans, an order of isopods. That is, she is the closest relative of crayfish and crabs. Woodlice should not be confused with silverfish insects.
The body of the woodlice is convex, consisting of small segments, the eyes are located on the side, and the outer antennae are almost equal to the length of the body. Some species have designs on their backs similar to oriental hieroglyphs. The shell is divided into segments, each of which has legs. When in danger, they pretend to be dead, curling up into a ball.
She bears offspring in the folds of her abdomen; after the eggs turn into living individuals, they come out. The lifespan of woodlice is from 9 to 12 months.
There are 4,500 species of these isopod crustaceans, which have adapted to survive in different conditions. Woodlice are found in all climatic zones of the planet.
They live on land, but in damp places. During the day they hide in shelters, and in the evening and at night they go in search of food.
Woodlice feed in the house on plant debris - plant roots, flower stalks, new shoots. In nature, these are tree bark, algae and moss. After a feast of woodlice, holes can be found on the leaves of plants, but only on the outside; they do not move on the inside.
Reproduction and life cycle
Woodlice reproduction is bisexual. This means that for procreation, partners of different sexes are needed.
Interesting! The female has two genital openings, into which the male alternately places his seed. Having completed one, he moves on to the next.
It is very interesting how woodlice reproduce, because this process has unique features. These crustaceans can reproduce in any season, but the male must wait until he molts, otherwise the genital openings will be closed. He finds the female in advance and stays nearby until she moults. He helps her get rid of the scales, and only after that can he begin the process.
Woodlice larvae
Woodlice larvae are located in a brood sac, similar to the ootheca of a cockroach. Fertilized eggs are placed in a chamber filled with liquid. Young individuals emerge from there after full maturation.
After hatching, several molts must occur, and only then does the insect reach sexual maturity. The difference in the appearance of a young organism and a sexually mature one is so great that many are sure that this is exactly what a woodlice larva looks like.
How long woodlice live depends on their living conditions. Their lifespan can vary from 7 days to 2 months.
Interesting! The back part of the body sheds before the front. The difference may be several days. During this period, the insect looks as if it consists of two different parts. Woodlice eat the shed cuticles.
Why are wood lice dangerous in an apartment?
The destruction of woodlice in an apartment is an important undertaking. They do not bite animals or people, but if they are not removed, the consequences can be extremely dire.
It has been proven that wood lice in the house are carriers of various diseases; they spread lichen and fungus throughout the premises, thereby causing enormous damage to human health.
Many people feel disgust at just one glance at a repulsive and unpleasant insect, and constant contact with them, for example, if woodlice appear in the bathroom every time you turn on the light, can cause stress and a nervous breakdown.
Useful properties of chickweed
Microelements and organic substances contained in the ground part of woodlice are beneficial for many diseases. The plant has the following abilities:
- has a disinfecting effect;
- promotes vasodilation;
- relieves pain;
- reduces blood pressure;
- increases the activity of immune defense;
- stimulates restoration processes in tissues and cells;
- removes mucus from the respiratory system;
- activates urine secretion, providing diuretic and laxative effects;
- increases blood clotting;
- prevents the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, fungi;
- normalizes thyroid function;
- tones muscles;
- starts metabolism;
- relieves cramps;
- treats skin diseases;
- improves the functioning of the digestive system;
- increases hemoglobin in the blood.
Where do woodlice come from?
Many people have encountered woodlice. Someone meets them while clearing out stale garbage from the site, and someone can see the crayfish when they go down to the cellar. They live under fallen leaves, in humus. They need moisture, woodlice in the apartment settle in places where dampness accumulates - the bathroom, toilet, kitchen, basement and attic. Excess moisture can accumulate in potted plants, which means the answer to the question of where woodlice appear in an apartment is obvious. In private houses they can be found after rain under a stone or brick.
If woodlice have settled in an apartment, how to get rid of them and where to look for habitats is a top priority. First of all, you need to inspect places where water accumulates, basements, baseboards in the kitchen, under the rug in the bathroom, under pipes, in closets with stale linen, on damp books, under the sink. Is there any leaking plumbing, or is there any garbage lying for a long time in a secluded place? They are often attracted to moist soil in flower pots.
Before you destroy wood lice in your apartment, you need to find out where they came from in order to block the paths of further spread.
In apartment buildings, insects often enter the premises through ventilation grilles, through sewer pipes; if they do not like the conditions (the room is dry), wood lice do not even linger in the bathroom or toilet, but go to look for the most favorable housing.
On the top floors, woodlice appear in the apartment, descending from the attic. Therefore, it is a good idea to check the attic space as well.
In a private home, close attention should be paid to greenhouses and greenhouses, where they end up with humus. In the cellar, the cause of their appearance may be rotten vegetables. In the garden - these are broken bricks, cuttings of branches, stones, rotting leaves. And in each case, the recipe for how to deal with woodlice is individual.
Behavior
The development of woodlice is not sufficient for them to be accused of consciously seeking favorable conditions, so their movements are determined by reflexes. In an attempt to find a place where the body will lose a minimum of moisture, the woodlice can change the speed of movement and turning.
You can conduct an experiment: put the woodlice in a dry or even hot place and observe it. She will move faster, spin more actively, looking for a way to escape from the negative environment. When placed in a dark, damp and cool place, the insect moves slowly, sometimes freezing for a long time.
How to get rid of woodlice: prevention measures
Have wood lice appeared in your apartment? It's all due to excess humidity. The fight against woodlice in an apartment begins with removing moisture, because crustaceans breathe with gills and need moist air. In addition, it is necessary to limit their access to food. Each room needs to be regularly ventilated, and more attention should be paid to ventilation in the bathroom, bathroom and kitchen. The process can be speeded up by using fans and heaters. Before removing woodlice from the apartment, you need to tidy up the plumbing, water supply and sewer pipes. Do not leave dishes or trash in the bin overnight in the sink.
Indoor flowers affected by woodlice need to be replanted. Wash the roots of the plant and treat with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is not recommended to reuse old pots, even after treatment.
Those who live outside the city often wonder if there are wood lice in the house - how to get rid of them in the cellar and basement? In this case, good ventilation is also effective. Humidity will be reduced by quicklime placed in special containers or simply scattered on the floor. In the room, it is good to sprinkle salt in the corners or make a saturated saline solution and spray it. Empty containers and rotten fruits and vegetables should not be left in the cellar, as this will attract even more woodlice.
How to get rid of woodlice in the garden? You also need to put things in order on your personal plot: get rid of fallen leaves, fragments of bricks and stones, cuttings of trees and branches, pieces of polyethylene and other debris.
In greenhouses and greenhouses, it is advisable to dry the soil and carry out moderate watering.
Folk remedies for woodlice in the apartment and in the garden
Any folk remedy for wood lice in the apartment is absolutely harmless to humans and pets. There are several recipes:
1. A time-tested and practice-tested remedy - boric acid. It has a destructive effect on the chitinous cover of crustaceans, thereby killing them. The solution should be sprayed in places where insects accumulate.
2. In one liter of water you need to dissolve three grams of soda ash, tobacco powder and red pepper. The mixture is sprayed where pests have accumulated.
3. Spraying agent - a simple solution of half a liter of boiling water and one hundred grams of dry kvass. In the bath, toilet or kitchen, the solution is sprayed along the baseboards, into various cracks, and in the corners of the floor. In the bathroom it is better to treat the ceilings as well. The room is closed for 8-10 hours, after which it is washed with plain water.
4. The destruction of woodlice in an apartment or in an open area is carried out using traps. To do this, you need to take a damp birch broom, wet moss or a rag, and place the objects near the parasites’ habitat. At dawn they will definitely crawl there, after which the bait must be shaken over the container. Chickens love to eat insects, and you can pour boiling water over them or burn them at the stake.
5.The following trap is effective for killing woodlice in flower pots and cellars. You need to cut out the middle of a carrot or potato, they will certainly get in there, and in the morning they are destroyed along with the bait.
Chemical repellents for woodlice in the apartment
If safe folk remedies do not help, you will have to use chemicals.
Leading scientists in our country have developed means that massively destroy insects, including wood lice. There are means and baits “Mole” and “Gett”. The composition should be applied to the floor of the bathroom or toilet, then left to dry for 48 hours. After 5 days, the treatment must be repeated, this guarantees the complete disappearance of unpleasant neighbors.
Tarax powder is highly effective. The product destroys almost all types of insects. One package is enough to treat sixty square meters of surface. The powder is dissolved in 250 ml of water; the solution must be treated with pipes, baseboards, ventilation shafts, and other places where woodlice accumulate. The product is applied using a syringe or brush. The composition operates on the principle of forming a microfilm on the surface, which represents the active substance. When interacting with this substance, woodlice will die. The drug is effective due to the fact that insects also poison their relatives.
Universal products with maximum effect - “Schabengel” bait – gel, “Varan” spray, “Tetrix”.
Treating the soil in autumn and spring with insecticides “Grom”, “Aktara”, and “Ideal” will help get rid of woodlice in the garden. The soil should be constantly loosened, providing oxygen access to the roots of the plants. To avoid spoiling the harvest, it is better to spray the bushes with a soap solution prepared in a ratio of 100 grams of laundry soap (finely grated) per ten liters of water.
When using pesticides, you must follow the rules for their use. Protective equipment is required - rubber gloves and a respirator. After treatment, hands and face should be washed with soap.
Contraindications for use
Medicinal products based on woodlice herb cannot be used if you have an individual allergic reaction to the plant. Chickweed is good for lowering blood pressure, so products from this herb are useful for hypertensive patients, but are contraindicated for hypotension. If you have problems with the stomach and intestines, gastritis, or ulcers, you should consult a doctor. Counseling is also necessary for pregnant women, infants and young children.
The small white flowers of chickweed do not open in rainy weather. A folk sign says that if the corollas have not opened in the morning, the day will be rainy. This plant is very fond of poultry, even parrots eat it with pleasure.
“Important: all information on the site is provided for informational purposes only. Before applying any recommendations, consult with a specialized specialist. Neither the editors nor the authors are responsible for any possible harm caused by the materials.”
