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Woodlice help please

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  • #1

    Woodlice help please

    I have excessive numbers of woodlice both inside a large polytunnel and in a compost bin.
    Mainly I try to garden with whatever pests are there by trying to encourage predators and let the natural balance happen but I have no idea what eats woodlice and the numbers are so great that the compost was just alive with them.
    Any advice on how to discourage them and reduce their numbers significantly much appreciated.
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  • #2
    Thanks for posting it.its biggest problem in my garden as well.

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    • #3
      The animals that eat woodlice are mostly asleep for the winter. Toads, hedgehogs, frogs, shrews, newts, and birds. Foxes will snuffle them up too but you don't want them digging up your poly tunnel. I wouldn't worry too much now (unless you have seedlings in the PT which they may nibble on), as woodlice mostly prefer decaying matter. Once spring comes and the hibernators wake up hungry, the woodlice population will drop.
      Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
      Endless wonder.

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      • #4
        According to Ray Mears you can eat them, taste like shrimps(to which they are related) apparently lol.

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        • #5
          Woodlice indicate a lot of decaying organic matter, woodlice are a part of the natural process and indicate a decent balance. Birds will eat them if you turn your compost to air it, however they are unlikely to cause much damage to your plants and are probably doing more good than harm. Chuck some part rotted woodchip near any sensitive plants you feel you want to 'protect' and they will have plenty to feed on. Alternatively scoop up the masses in the pollytunnel and place them under a nearby hedge.
          I would not be too concerned either way.

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          • #6
            I wouldn't be concerned with them.
            As has been said they mainly feed on decomposing organic matter, so unless they are nibbling young seedlings ( which occasionally happens) live with them as they do far more useful work than bad.
            If they are attacking young seedlings, wait until the seedlings are bigger before planting out.
            One of my bins is full of them, but they can demolish a thick cardboard box (2 ft x 2 ft) in a couple of weeks in the winter, that bin is also loaded with worms and a very scary, very large centipede lives under the lid, together with spiders and a few slugs
            Mother nature at work.
            Feed the soil, healthy soil = healthy plants.
            Feed the soil, not the plants.
            (helps if you have cluckies)

            Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
            Bob

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            • #7
              As already said, those in the compost are helping you.
              I live with them: they're only a nuisance when they eat my strawberries
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by burnie View Post
                According to Ray Mears you can eat them, taste like shrimps(to which they are related) apparently lol.
                Not brave enough to find out what they taste like!

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Filbert View Post
                  Not brave enough to find out what they taste like!
                  Also they'd be bloomin' hard to get the shells off....
                  Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                  Endless wonder.

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                  • #10
                    Having sieved some of the compost from the bottom of the bin I have discovered a large number of centipedes in addition to the many Wood lice. I know they are bug eaters, do you think they are living on the Wood lice?

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                    • #11
                      Mother nature has a way of increasing or decreasing populations of bugs, fungi, animals etc. in accordance with the available food resouces. When that resouce diminishes the population dies down. Think of a dead carcase by the roadside, nothing living there day one, by day 3 it's crawling and by day 10 it's barron of visible wildlife and stripped to a skeleton.

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