My tomato plant soil is infested with little pests, I think they are called "pill bugs", grayish hard shelled bodies that roll up into a ball. Are they bad or good pests? How do I get rid of them I was told nicotine, but im not to keen on that idea. ANy help would be great. Thanks
Pillbugs/sowbugs are more of a problem when the plants are small, they can eat young plants off at the crown. Most full grown plants are not as susceptible. Most snail bait products also address sowbugs.
iv been trying to control the infestation. not working very well as they are now inside the tomatoes having a buffet
I'm sorry if this question offends you, but it must be asked: Are you sure it's the "pill bugs" that are doing the damage in the tomatoes? The reason I ask is that pill bugs are usually thought of as a beneficial creature. They can be a powerful natural defense against stink bugs, which are very bad for tomatoes. As part of an Integrated Pest Management program, some tomato growers do things to encourge pill bugs for that reason. If you should happen to be compulsive - obsessive and totally anal (like I am) about knowing your enemy, here's a run down on pill bugs & sow bugs. Both are isopods(not insects), small terrestrial crustaceans having a convex segmented bodies. They are actually relatives of shrimp & crayfish, they have more in common with crabs and lobsters than they do with cicadas and ladybugs. But pill bugs and sow bugs are different. Both pill bugs and sow bugs will inhabit the same area and are difficult to tell apart. The difference is the pill bug can roll into a tight round ball and the sow bug can only sort of "hump" up. It cannot form a "pill" like the pill bug can. Unlike other arthropods such as insects and spiders, pill bugs do not have a waxy cuticle that would reduce evaporation from their bodies. Pill bugs also use modified gills, called pseudotrachea, for respiration, and the gills must remain moist to function. This gets us to what to do about them. Are you growing the tomatoes in a green house and/or using plastic mulch? Since these critters require very moist conditions in which to thrive, see what you can do to alter their environment. Remove plastic mulch. If not plastic, reduce other mulch & cut back on watering or irrigating. Note: these are only temporary measures to get the infestation under control. It's one of those situations when you can make some slight physical adjustments to the site, and these little guys might go elsewhere, or die. Also remove their hiding places such as piles of plant material, boards/wood, bricks, large rocks, etc. Diatomaceous earth is another possibility. It is not a repellant, you want them to walk over it. If they pick up enough of the dust, their gills dehydrate and die. If you use this product the results may not be seen until a few days days later. Important: But be sure that you are using the correct grade of DE. It should be food or horticultural grade, never the DE that is used in pool filters. It won't work and it's hazardous to your health. Since you're in the Great White North, this may interest you: Some Quebec growers are having similar problems. They are experimenting with a plastic collar, like a cone around the base of the tomato plants, to deter pill bugs. It is made from greenhouse polyethylene, 3inches high. The whole thing is kept upright with Tanglefoot glue (a natural resin that never dries). Pill bugs seem not able to climb on a clean plastic. There also are organic pesticides like Pyganic. ( http://www.pyganic.com/ ) I discourage these sorts of things because they are not well targeted. They'll kill a very wide range of insects, spiders & isopods. Peace, poor_old_dad
