Pill Bug Control
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Pill Bug Extermination Services
Stride Pest Control provides pill bug control for homes and businesses across Central Texas, where these small, armored crawlers, also called roly-polies or sow bugs, live in damp mulch and soil and wander indoors when the ground gets too wet or too dry. Pill bugs are hard to keep out on your own because they gather in large numbers along the moist ground around a foundation.
Stride treats pill bugs through the Stride Forward integrated pest management process, focused on the damp harborage and entry points they use. Because pill bugs need constant moisture, cutting the damp conditions is what keeps them out.
Every treatment is backed by a same-day service option and a satisfaction guarantee, and the products we use are odorless and colorless once dry. Because pill bugs share the moist ground with other occasional invaders, Stride also handles millipede control and general pest control around your property.
Pill Bugs In Central Texas
Pill bugs are one of the most familiar backyard crawlers, and, surprisingly, not an insect at all.
| Trait | Pill Bug |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Small, gray, armored, oval body that rolls into a tight ball when disturbed |
| Not an insect | A land crustacean, related to crabs and shrimp |
| Where they live | Damp mulch, soil, leaf litter, and under stones and pots |
| What they eat | Decaying plant matter, not your home |
| Why they come in | When soil gets too wet or too dry, through foundation gaps |
| Indoors | They dry out and die quickly without moisture |
Because pill bugs breathe through gill-like structures, they must stay damp, which is exactly why a drier perimeter keeps them out.
Signs You Have Pill Bugs
Pill bugs show up in predictable places:
- Pill bugs along the foundation, garage, or patio, especially after watering or rain.
- Dead pill bugs indoors, since they cannot survive long inside.
- Large numbers under mulch, pots, and stones.
- The telltale roll into a ball when one is disturbed.
- Damp mulch and soil right up against the house.
Are Pill Bugs Dangerous?
Pill bugs are completely harmless. They do not bite, sting, or spread disease, and they do not damage the home, furnishings, or stored food.
They are a nuisance only, and only when they wander in by the dozens. Because they rely on constant moisture, pill bugs cannot survive indoors for long and quickly dry out, so the whole problem is keeping them from migrating in.
How We Get Rid of Pill Bugs
Stride treats pill bugs through the five-step Stride Forward process, aimed at the moisture and harborage that drive them inside:
- Inspect. We check the damp mulch, soil, and harborage along the foundation, and the gaps and thresholds pill bugs use.
- Identify. We confirm pill bugs and the moisture conditions behind the migration.
- Recommend. We point out the mulch to pull back, the drainage and watering habits to adjust, and the gaps to seal.
- Treat. We apply a residual barrier along the foundation, treat the harborage, and seal entry points and door thresholds.
- Evaluate. We monitor on recurring visits, since moisture swings keep pushing new pill bugs toward the house.
Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.
How to Keep Pill Bugs Away
Keeping pill bugs out is all about the perimeter:
- Pull mulch and leaf litter back from the foundation.
- Fix drainage and moisture so the ground near the house dries out.
- Water the lawn in the morning so it dries before nightfall.
- Seal gaps around the foundation and doors, and add door sweeps.
- Move pots, stones, and debris away from the house.
Pill Bug Control Frequently Asked Questions
Are pill bugs and roly-polies the same thing?
Yes. Pill bugs, roly-polies, and sow bugs are all common names for the same small land crustacean. Pill bugs roll into a tight ball, while the closely related sow bug cannot.
Do pill bugs bite or damage the house?
No. They are completely harmless, feeding on decaying plant matter. They cannot bite, sting, or damage a home or its contents.
Why are pill bugs coming inside?
They wander in from damp mulch and soil when the ground gets too wet or too dry, slipping through foundation gaps. Without moisture they dry out and die indoors within a day or two.
How do I keep pill bugs out?
Reduce moisture around the foundation, pull mulch back from the house, and seal entry points. A drier perimeter gives them no reason to gather and no way in.
THE STRIDE FORWARD PROGRAM
Our Strategic ECO-BASED Protocol
Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.
The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.
Our Certifications & Awards
Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.
Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.
Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.
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Stride Pest Control received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
based on 2,400+ reviews.
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You do not have to live with pests. Stride Pest Control offers same-day service across Central Texas with a satisfaction guarantee on every treatment.
4.9 stars across 2,400+ reviews | QualityPro certified | Satisfaction guaranteed