After it rains, flat, gray-colored bugs come inside my home

Question: After it rains I have been noticing numerous small, flat, charcoal-gray-colored bugs that come inside. We have a slab home and they crawl in from under the baseboards. I have been using indoor spray, but they keep coming back. Can you tell me what these bugs are and how to get rid of them?

Answer: You may have sow bugs or pill bugs. Sow bugs, pill bugs, or ''rolly pollys'' to some people, are not actually insects, but related to crayfish. There is a slight difference between sow bugs and pill bugs: sow bugs can not roll up into a ball when disturbed, and pill bugs can! They both live and breed in moist, decaying organic material and are usually found in areas around the perimeter of the house. A favorite location is under the bottom logs of the woodpile, under potted plants, or in wet mulch.

These animals usually remain outside, but may come inside when their habitat become too wet (or even too dry) or the population enlarges. They enter under doors and around ground-level windows.

They don't reproduce inside houses or basements because it is too dry and there is no food there for them. They are usually found dead just inside the door they have entered. This is often the case when the habitat is very dry, and they can not find a protected and humid shelter.

Control begins with the removal of excess material around the house and doors. Pull mulch away from the foundation and make a gap of 6 - 12". Make sure the door thresholds and windows are well sealed.

Your highly trained Orkin Pest Specialist will inspect your home inside and outside, make an assessment of the situation, and develop a customized treatment plan based on science that best fits your needs. Contact us to set up a visit by the Orkin Pest Specialist today.