Rattles are not dangerous, but many crustaceans are disgusting. Here you can find out how to successfully combat and drive away woodlice.
Porcellio scaber (Porcellio scaber
) are only at first glance small, useless creatures that hide under flower pots or stones all day long. Because woodlice are actually very useful and they play an important role in the cycle of nature. Similar to earthworms, woodlice ensure nutrient-rich soil, for example, and should therefore only be fought if there is a real plague. By the way, there is also the possibility of catching the little woodlice with a trick. This will get rid of the animals in your apartment - in the garden, on the other hand, they will ensure fertile soil.We explain when woodlice should be fought and why they feel at home in the house at all. Then we present household remedies, chemical sprays and biological control methods - here is the right method for everyone.
When does it make sense to control woodlice?
Since the woodlice is actually a beneficial creature and also completely harmless to humans, the question arises in which cases it might make sense to control woodlice. Under certain circumstances, the woodlice can occur as a storage pest. For example, if you store vegetables in the basement, woodlice could see them as food. Rot and mold can spread quickly through their feeding tunnels. However, the humidity in modern basements is often so low that woodlice cannot actually survive there.
Cellar rattles in the house
Basement rattles are therefore always an indication of high humidity, which can also lead to mold infestation in living spaces. For this reason, measures should be taken to reduce humidity and drive out woodlice. You can find out how you can reduce the humidity in your rooms in this special article on home remedies against woodlice. In short, you should ventilate sufficiently often and properly and itavoid storing damp laundry or food in the affected room unless structural damage is causing the moisture problem.
Important: All countermeasures should be taken in connection with a fight against the cause, because otherwise the lodgers with the 14 legs will always want to move in with you.
Fighting Cellar Rattles
Fighting cellar rattles with home remedies
Once the causes of the moisture have been clarified and rectified, you can start driving the isopods away. Depending on how much time and energy you can invest, you can choose home remedies that will help you get rid of the small Tadpole Shrimp in the long term. With the help of trap constructions or repellents (deterrents), they are gradually removed or convinced that the flying visit to your apartment was not a good idea. Regular checks and re-application of the traps or home remedies are necessary so that you can record lasting success. With these methods, all human and animal residents as well as the environment are guaranteed to be protected. An equally gentle and significantly less time-consuming option is to use our Plantura ant remedy.
Tackle rattles biologically
However, quite a few of the active ingredients permitted in organic farming are nevertheless harmful to aquatic organisms and not necessarily gentle on beneficial organisms. Our Plantura ant remedy enables non-chemical control with very fine kieselguhr (also known as diatomaceous earth or silica powder). The purest kieselguhr is made from fossil diatoms and has a sharp-edged, very large surface. Due to its special purity, our Plantura ant remedy is not dangerous for the user, but its effect on many annoying arthropods such as ants, silverfish and woodlice is very effective. It absorbs the fatty layer of the chitin shell, causing affected animals to dry out. It also seals the breathing openings, leading to early death by asphyxiation. Our ant remedy is distributed in cracks, crevices and heavily frequented places of woodlice or around an bait - a boiled, slightly rotten potato, for example. If the woodlice come into contact with the powder, it is very likely that they will no longer be a problem for you after four days at the latest.
Tip: Our PlanturaAnt remedy is also effective against ants (Formicidae) and silverfish.
Fighting rattles with beneficial insects
For some time now, beneficial insects have also been offered that you can use to fight woodlice. Tiny roundworms or nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae) are used, which fight woodlice with the help of bacteria. However, since the nematodes are practically immobile, the isopods have to be lured to the nematodes. Some suppliers of beneficial insects therefore sell ready-made woodlice traps. These contain an attractant that attracts the isopods. This gets them trapped and in contact with the nematodes, sealing their fate. The tiny threadworms penetrate the woodlice and secrete bacteria, which digest the woodlice from the inside. However, the trap system only works reliably at temperatures above 12 °C, since the nematodes are inactive at lower temperatures. In our article on nematodes as beneficial insects, you can find out which pests roundworms can also be used against.
Fighting cellar rattles with chemical sprays
If you want to see quick results without having to worry about a lot, you can spread chemical biocides in your basement. However, we would strongly advise against this because of the often poor ventilation and the use of basement rooms for laundry, supplies or the like. Pets and children also often get into the prepared areas and you will certainly be more comfortable if there are no toxins in the form of jars, powders or invisible deposits to be found anywhere.
Tip: Spray agents are called biocides which, in contrast to pesticides, do not serve to protect plants, but are only used against pests that are annoying or dangerous to humans. However, the active ingredients contained are usually the same as those found in plant protection products.
If you want to know more about the woodlice, you can find more information in our special article.