Woodlice infestation

emilymemily · 04-08-2019 01:34AM #1

I have a wooden window at the back of my house which is constantly crawling with woodlice, it there anyway of permanently getting rid of them? I know I can buy woodlice killer but is that just a temporary fix as more will get in as theres large trees and bushes outside the window which im assuming is where theyre coming from.
Thanks

gozunda · 04-08-2019 01:37AM

emilymemily wrote: »

I have a wooden window at the back of my house which is constantly crawling with woodlice, it there anyway of permanently getting rid of them? I know I can buy woodlice killer but is that just a temporary fix as more will get in as theres large trees and bushes outside the window which im assuming is where theyre coming from.
Thanks

Wood lice like damp wood and shaded conditions so change window to PVC or similar modern materials and get rid of shade / damp

emilymemily · 04-08-2019 01:51AM

I dont like killing them but theres just so many coming in so I squished one about ten minutes ago, went to make a cup of tea, came back and found two new woodlice on top of the dead one, squished them and just found another new one on top of the dead pile of lice, he looked like he was eating them.. - do they eat each other? I didnt used to mind them but this is disgusting.
I cant change the window currently, its a very old wooden window frame and I dont have the money to change it right now, is there anything else I can do? Even temporarily?

the dark phantom · 04-08-2019 01:53AM

go over the frame with yacht varnish lots of it

emilymemily · 04-08-2019 02:12AM

Thanks I cleaned away the dead woodlice and strangely enough it seems to have stopped more from coming in.. are they attracted to the smell of dead woodlice? Im feeling very creeped out after seeing that, can feel them on me.
I dont have yacht varnish but I will look into buying some this week. Would anything from my cupboards work as a quick fix? like vinegar and lemon stops spiders, would something similar work for woodlice?

Stigura · 04-08-2019 03:21AM

Emily; I'm a bit torn, here.

See; I'm a ~ now retired ~ 'Pest Controller'. Though I specialised more in vertebrates. However, this brought me into contact with a guy with woodlice. I saw, through his mania, where these things can send someone.

I've done the odd Morgan Freeman, for people like you. Unfortunately, I genuinely have nothing left in my stores. I gave it all to a younger chap. And, anyway, if ye not within a few miles of me?

As has been said, above: Yes. Disrupting their localised habitat is a start. (Don't try this with rats!) Even a couple of square yards, beneath that window, would help.

My advice would be to do that. Get out there and rake the ground up, beneath the window. Leave just bare earth.

Yacht Varnish? I've really no idea. But, it just so happens I bought a tin of that exact stuff, just last week. Surprisingly cheap! Few yo a small tin.

Be interested to hear how ye get on.

Calahonda52 · 04-08-2019 05:41PM

How are they getting in?

Steve · 04-08-2019 05:45PM

Ant powder is very effective at killing them.

I'd be more concerned about the windowsill, they don't eat preserved / healthy timber.

Dihsurn · 09-08-2019 09:27PM

Why the rush to find poison or locate the place they are coming from in an effort to permanently eradicate woodlice. The woodlice are telling you that you have rotting wood at the back of your house. You could look on the woodlice as an early warning system trying to tell you of trouble ahead if you do not take care of the rot. Maybe you wouldnt have noticed the wood was rotting if they hadnt come along. The woodlice are there to do their job breaking down rotting matter and turning it back into soil. They are not infesting your place, they wont eat wood thats not rotting or eat into your walls, they only eat decaying matter. Woodlice live everywhere and they won't stay in any kind of numbers where they cant find a food source. You need to do your job which is to maintain your home getting rid of rotting matter by either replacing it or temporarily preserving it. Try to live and work with nature. You could simply brush them into a dustpan and leave them back outside while you have a good look at the extent of the rot and treat the wood with whatever preservative or varnish you choose until you are able to replace the windows or whatever else has suffered rot. Once the woodlice find that the rotting wood is preserved or replaced they wont stay around. You do find them under trees and hedges etc breaking down twigs bits of bark etc and thats where they belong they dont want to be in your home without food. Best of luck

chicorytip · 10-08-2019 01:06PM

emilymemily wrote:

I have a wooden window at the back of my house which is constantly crawling with woodlice, it there anyway of permanently getting rid of them? I know I can buy woodlice killer but is that just a temporary fix as more will get in as theres large trees and bushes outside the window which im assuming is where theyre coming from. Thanks

If you don't intend replacing the window then the powdered form of woodlouse killer is very effective indeed. Spread it liberally on both the window frame and the surrounding area.

s7ryf3925pivug · 10-08-2019 01:13PM

Best to think of them as a symptom of a bigger problem which is that your window is damp and probably rotten. They don't attack sound structures. Replace window with pvc frame as per previous suggestion. If they are inside your house then you might have a bigger damp issue.

emilymemily · 10-08-2019 11:07PM

Thanks everyone, yes im aware the window needs to be changed, its rotting away as its roughly 50 years old, possibly older. I sprayed some insect killer around the window both inside and outside and it seems to have fixed the problem.
What really got me was how the more I squished, the more would come in and interact with the dead lice, like the dead ones were attracting more to come in. So so strange and creepy, didnt know they eat each other like that.
Thanks again for the help.

Blaizes · 10-08-2019 11:30PM

On the subject of windows and skirting in relation to wood lice infestation, would stainless steel be a better choice of skirting board rather than wood. Like more long lasting, etc. know it wouldn’t suit every house obviously but could prevent infestations maybe and be better value in the long run?

Stigura · 10-08-2019 11:38PM

Blaizes; If one were planning to go down that route? I'd have thought 'Laminate Flooring' skirts would be a better idea?

Blaizes · 10-08-2019 11:52PM

Stigura wrote: »

Blaizes; If one were planning to go down that route? I'd have thought 'Laminate Flooring' skirts would be a better idea?

Is that something like a laminate floor same material?
Am not looking for the nice shiny effect but just something long lasting and durable. I’m a minimalist and see people every day replacing this that and everything in a house like wrong floor, must replace, carpet didn’t wear well, up it must come things like this. I suppose what I’m trying to say or asking is if you use the right materials in the first place and get it right then there won’t be the need to take stuff up again and replace in a couple of years. It’s hassle, it’s expensive better to try and get it right from day one. Not always possible I know but a great aspiration.Simple living.

GreeBo · 10-08-2019 11:59PM

You don't have a bug problem... you have a rot problem, as many posters have pointed out.
Fix the rot and no more bugs.

Stigura · 11-08-2019 12:10AM

SS skirts? Hellishly expensive stuff!

I'm a simple enough sort of guy, myself. No boards. Just old concrete. Windows are all ... dunno. Something other than wood. I still get loads of wildlife in here. I just don't mind it though

Meanwhile, I think what all these, " Stop The Rot " merchants are missing out on is that; Maybe the lady simply isn't in a position to just snap her fingers and call in Munster Joinery?

GreeBo · 11-08-2019 08:49AM

Rot isn't a problem that gets cheaper the longer you ignore it.

You don't have to replace the window right now...you do have to control the rot though.

Dihsurn · 12-08-2019 12:25PM

From one of your friendly "Stop The Rot Merchants" a cheap temporary solution

Ronseal Wet Rot Hardener €11.49
Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler rebuilds rotten wood and hardens in just 30 minutes. Its unique two-part system creates seriously tough repairs to virtually any interior or exterior wood. You can fill to any depth and even drill, screw or plane it.

emilymemily · 20-08-2019 02:50AM

Dihsurn wrote: »

From one of your friendly "Stop The Rot Merchants" a cheap temporary solution

Ronseal Wet Rot Hardener €11.49
Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler rebuilds rotten wood and hardens in just 30 minutes. Its unique two-part system creates seriously tough repairs to virtually any interior or exterior wood. You can fill to any depth and even drill, screw or plane it.

Thanks you, this is great help.

Stigura · 20-08-2019 03:57AM

Sorry, Emily. But, I saw This, the other day, and thought of you. And couldn't help but LMFAO!

20-08-2019 05:33AM

Stigura wrote: »

SS skirts? Hellishly expensive stuff!

I'm a simple enough sort of guy, myself. No boards. Just old concrete. Windows are all ... dunno. Something other than wood. I still get loads of wildlife in here. I just don't mind it though

Meanwhile, I think what all these, " Stop The Rot " merchants are missing out on is that; Maybe the lady simply isn't in a position to just snap her fingers and call in Munster Joinery?

Id have thought SS skirting doesnt exist, but if it did, potentially expensive and a problem regarding earth bonding/ie electrical conductivity, how would that be done without looking ugly or even be practical and functional (for earth bonding). Anyway, having SS skirting to prevent rot seems to "skirt" the real problem.

stellarjets · 23-08-2019 04:37PM

I feel your pain OP!

We're new owners of a 70s bungalow. Every day we remove a few tens of woodlice wandering around the floor, despite meticulous cleaning. We have multiple problems that need addressing. Perhaps you have some of these too:

The front door is wooden, and 50 years old. We're replacing that soon, but they're getting in under it currently.
The previous owners enjoyed making compost, and left a tonne or so. This increases the local population hugely.
The previous owners liked gardening. Mature shrubs and weeds in near the house will soon be dug and dumped.
The external render has a stucco (rough concrete) finish. Dozens crawl all over the walls every night. The walls need a power hosing to get rid of whatever organic dirt they're are eating.
The exterior paint is lifting from the wall, creating ideal damp caves for them. Needs stripping / sandblasting and replacing with a breathable paint (which will let masonry dry, and prevent further lifting)
The 50 year old gun barrel (i.e. rusting) pipes need replacing. They're making floors and skirting damp, permitting survival indoors.
The insulation needs (and is getting) a major upgrade with the plumbing, reducing condensation issues, and aiding drying.
The airtightness of the house is poor, so small gaps, cracks and crevices need filling.

I'd agree with the notion that the woodlice are a symptom of dampness and airtightness problems. Distancing the food sources and reducing suitable shelter around the house is probably helpful too.

Nanazolie · 07-10-2019 12:01PM

I found woodlice crawling under a broken part of concrete at the bottom of our front porch. The broken concrete chunk is still there, I need to reseal it and repair the concrete around. However, woodlice puzzled me, there is no wood there, all our windows and doors are PVC, and no vegetation close to that part of the house either. What could bring them there, is it just because it's dark and damp (obviously, water would be getting under that chunk of concrete)?

Stigura · 07-10-2019 05:04PM

Nanazolie; While things with more than four legs was never my forte, I did get a shout from a guy in town.

Similar situation. His place was all concrete, render and UPVC. And yet, the buggers were Everywhere! What's worse is, they were absolutely determined to get into his home and just wander about the floors.

I didn't want the job. Because I could see me getting called back for another treatment, the minute the first one stopped working. Some would love that sort of easy money. I never operated that way.

Dunno what eventually happened to the guy. But, he was pathological about the things. Maybe he torched the place and went to live on a boat?

But, yeah; So many creatures just haven't got the decency to google their own behaviour, then adhere to that.

Woodlice infestation

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