Woodlice

[Primrose]

When clearing some of my patio pots over the weekend - (they are large plastic pots with an inner curved protective rim) I came across literally hundreds of woodlice who have obviously made very comfortable nests for themselves inside the curved pot rims.

What to do with them? I contemplated killing them off with an insect repellant spray but they,ve obviously been there for a while and didn,t damage any of the plants in the pots over spring and summer so in the end I let them dissipate and go about their business.

Are they actually harmful to plants? If they'd been slugs or snails I would have disposed them but woodlice ??

[robo]

I hope they are not near your strawberries

[Primrose]

No Robo, strawberries are in front garden. Patio pots in back garden.

[tigerburnie]

Apparently they taste like shrimps and you can eat them...…………………...

[Monika]

Oh, tigerburnie, yuk. And, no, Primrose, I would leave them alone. On the whole, they go for decaying rather than living matter to eat. If you have frogs or toads in the garden, they will eat them and, with the weather getting colder, winter might get rid of some in any case.

[Stephen]

Do they eat potatoes or just live in the ones eaten by slugs?

[Westi]

I had them in my strawberries and now you mention about your potatoes I wonder if they were just opportunistic & took advantage of previous damage as I have found them in damaged spuds that they couldn't have done unless they had a full family reunion in.

I'll await further replies, would like to know.

[Monika]

Westi, I am sure woodlice would not START any damage on potatoes but will most likely take advantage of any (slug?) holes.

[Westi]

And strawberries? Is the them or some slug damage to start them off?

[Stephen]

Monika's view is in line with what I have read but I like to check as the internet is stuffed with nonsense.

I suspect strawberries are more vulnerable being considerably softer than raw spuds.