As a kid I always heard of them called Roly Poly bugs, but did you know they are really crustaceans ? They are really not insects but are more closely related to shrimp or lobsters. They are considered by the pest industry to be occasional invaders, but sometimes their number just explode. There are two varieties Pillbugs and Sowbugs and about the only difference from what I can see is that the Sowbug has two small appendages which stick out from the rear of the body and the Sowbug can’t roll into a ball. They both tend to be outside pests in gardens but occasionally get into homes, they have mouth parts to grind up decomposing matter. They also have gills, which I didn’t even know!
So if they get into your home, what do you do? They will probably die from lack of moisture and they don’t do any damage. They don’t bite or sting and are not considered harmful. I’ve seen them basements and others areas of home high in moisture, which should also get you to think about how that moisture is getting into your home. Moisture can be far more dangerous to wood and your health if it is allowed to grow into mold or mildew.
