{"id":3177,"date":"2025-12-18T11:41:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avalancheextermination.ca\/?p=3177"},"modified":"2025-12-18T11:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:41:14","slug":"keep-woodlice-away-from-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avalancheextermination.ca\/en\/blog\/keep-woodlice-away-from-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Woodlice: are they dangerous and how do you get rid of them?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Woodlice<\/strong>\u00a0are small\u00a0moisture-loving pests<\/strong>\u00a0often found near or inside homes. While\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0harmless, their presence can point to a\u00a0humidity or ventilation issue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we explain how to\u00a0identify\u00a0them, prevent an infestation, and\u00a0eliminate\u00a0them when they become too\u00a0numerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodlice: moisture-loving pests that enjoy our basements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When people talk about woodlice, the expression \u201cmoisture insect<\/strong>\u201d often comes up.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a general term used to describe pests that prefer damp environments, like silverfish<\/a> and\u00a0centipedes<\/strong>. In fact,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0often find woodlice in the same places as these insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a\u00a0woodlouse<\/strong>\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0actually an\u00a0insect\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0small land crustacean<\/strong>\u00a0that loves\u00a0humidity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0dark hiding spots<\/strong>.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0commonly found in garages, basements, and other\u00a0damp or poorly ventilated areas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do woodlice look like?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Measuring about one centimetre long, the woodlouse has a\u00a0segmented, rigid body<\/strong>\u00a0that resembles a\u00a0tiny shell<\/strong>. It can curl up into a ball when it feels threatened. Its body is oval-shaped, dark grey to brown, and supported by 14 thin legs. Interestingly,\u00a0woodlice are arthropods with pale blue blood<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike silverfish\u2014long, shiny, and very quick\u2014woodlice move much more slowly. They also differ from centipedes, which have long, slender bodies and many visible legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where do woodlice live?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Woodlice live\u00a0mainly outdoors<\/strong>\u00a0in moist, shaded areas.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0commonly found under stones, bark, wooden planks, or piles of leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\u00a0small crustacean<\/strong>\u00a0plays an\u00a0important ecological role<\/strong>\u00a0by feeding on decomposing organic matter.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0natural cleaner<\/strong>\u2014making it a helpful little friend in the garden<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next section,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0explain why they sometimes make their way indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do woodlice appear in or around the home?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you find\u00a0woodlice near your home<\/strong>,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0because\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0found the same conditions they enjoy in nature\u2014humidity, cool\u00a0temperatures\u00a0and dark hiding spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s\u00a0very common\u00a0to see them around foundations,\u00a0under flowerpots<\/strong>\u00a0or in piles of leaves at the end of summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, they make their way indoors by squeezing through a crack or tiny opening. In the next section,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0look at whether their presence inside the home is\u00a0actually a\u00a0problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodlice inside the home: is it a problem?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding woodlice inside your home can be annoying, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0rarely a cause for concern<\/strong>. These small crustaceans are\u00a0harmless<\/strong>. However, their presence can\u00a0indicate\u00a0excess humidity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, woodlice\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0cause the problem\u2014they reveal it.\u00a0Here\u2019s\u00a0what you need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are woodlice harmful?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Woodlice pose\u00a0no risk to humans,\u00a0pets\u00a0or the structure of the home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, they may occasionally nibble on certain plants when they are present in large numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do woodlice bite?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No. Since they have neither stingers nor biting mouthparts, woodlice cannot bite or sting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are woodlice dangerous?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Woodlice\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0dangerous on their own. However, their presence signals excess humidity. In other words, seeing woodlice inside your home may point to an\u00a0issue with humidity or ventilation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High humidity levels<\/strong>\u00a0can encourage\u00a0mould growth<\/strong>, which may pose health risks to the occupants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So\u00a0if you\u00a0frequently\u00a0see moisture-loving pests<\/strong>\u2014such as woodlice,\u00a0silverfish\u00a0or centipedes\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0worth taking a closer look at the condition of your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s\u00a0now look at how to tell the difference between a stray visitor and a true\u00a0woodlice infestation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you recognize an infestation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seeing a\u00a0single woodlouse<\/strong>\u00a0in the house\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0alarming\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0often just one that wandered in. However, if you notice several in the same spot or\u00a0you encounter\u00a0them regularly,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0something to\u00a0monitor. It could mean your indoor environment is a little\u00a0too<\/em>\u00a0inviting for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few signs of\u00a0a possible infestation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n