Roll-up behaviour and habitat
Sowbug vs pillbug
Sowbugs and pillbugs are crustaceans, not insects. Pillbugs (roly-polies) roll into a ball. Sowbugs usually cannot. They share habitat and control: wet organic matter against a foundation. Steps for getting them out of a house are on the Sowbug and pillbug page.
Roll-up behaviour and habitat
| Pillbug | Sowbug | |
|---|---|---|
| Roll into a ball? | Yes | Generally no; trailing appendages |
| Folk names | Roly-poly, pill bug | Woodlouse, sow bug |
| Habitat | Under pots, mulch, damp boards | Same moisture postcard |
| Eat the house? | Wet dead plants, not sound timber | Same |
Shared moisture control
Pull mulch, fix downspouts, dry the basement, seal doors. Arizona irrigation against stucco still makes a forest floor. Rain invaders that are not isopods: Millipede and Earwig.
Species pages
Each species article has the control sequence and safety notes. This page only splits look-alikes.
Common questions
Do I need different poison for sowbugs vs pillbugs?
You need a drier foundation. Habitat first for both.