By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Sowbugs, pillbugs, roly-polies, woodlice, or even wood shrimp. No matter what you call them, do not call them bugs. The small gray creatures that are making their way into basements this time of year are actually crustaceans. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research and Extension, said there are actually two different specifies of the animals common to the area.
"For the most part, you can see both sowbugs and pillbugs," she said. "The sowbugs possess two small, tail-like appendages located at the end of the body and the pillbugs do not have appendages. That's how you can tell the difference."
Pillbugs can also roll up, thus the roly-poly moniker, while sowbugs cannot. Both are always found in moist environments because they cannot control moisture loss from their bodies. With weak chewing mouthparts, both typically feed on decaying organic matter. When they make their way into a home, they typically dry out and die.
"Because they are crustaceans, the scientific rumor is that they taste like shrimp and you can eat them like shrimp," Boor said. "But I have yet to find a person who is willing to try out this theory for me."
The best way to control pillbug and sowbug populations is by habitat manipulation, including removing mulch and leaf debris. Insecticides are usually not required inside the home because pillbugs and sowbugs die quickly. Both are considered beneficial to the environment and pose no risk to humans.