Is it time for the TZ slow worm to come out of hibernation?
Seems this forum has a broad range of experiences so here is a random one.
Anyone know what these are?
We have just had the upstairs carpet replaced with new wool carpet.
We have found about 8 of these.
What are they, could they have come in on the new carpet and what is the likely issue.
I have done some Googling and the don’t appear to be carpet beetle.
The look like small wood lice.
Last edited by Montello; 5th April 2023 at 23:06.
Is it time for the TZ slow worm to come out of hibernation?
Woodlice exactly as you thought
Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
https://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/...-in-the-house/
Those are wood lice. Probably disturbed a little nest in the skirting or radiator pipe hole.
Nothing much to worry about, unless you get dozens of them coming out.
They're edible and taste similar to shrimp – which is not surprising as they're both crustaceans
40 different species in UK
https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/pra...ft-experience/
Cooking demo: https://www.woodlands.co.uk/tv/2011/...hcraft-skills/
BW, dunk
Last edited by sundial; 6th April 2023 at 01:56.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
Actually they're called pill bugs as they're the shape of a pill. They roll into a ball for protection
Does the image match?
Woodlice / slater (Scotland).
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Monkey pea when I was a kid
Despite the strong superficial resemblance, pill 'bugs' are neither woodlice/slaters nor true bugs, but actually a specialised group of millipedes.
_______________________________
To the OP: if you have woodlice indoors, then you have rotting wood somewhere in the structure of your house and would do well to check for a leaking roof, overflowing gutters or rising damp. Sorry. We have all of those if it's any consolation...
Indeed. We have never seen them before so I’m wondering if they have come in on the new carpet.
I will keep a watch for further cases. So far limited to a few.
We have discovered a leak under the bath but no evidence of rot.
From my reading up any wood would have to be very rotten.
Called 'Granny Bugs' round my way when I was a kid, 'Granny Greys' a few valleys across, and 'Hardbacks' where my missus is from 30 mile away.
We used to call them cheesy bugs as a kid. No idea why.
Back in the early 70’s my mum panicked when she discovered my little brother had turned over a paving stone in the back garden and was munching on a handful of wood lice! - it’s one of my earliest memories as my mum was so worried and I remember chuckling at my little brothers antics. The doctors response? Nothing wrong with a bit of fresh meat, he’ll be fine!
Last edited by RobDad; 6th April 2023 at 13:40.
Meanwhile I’m still wondering where they came from.
Found 2 more today.
I’m going to look under the shower tray as that’s the most likely spot where a leak may be hiding creating a habitable space for them. A right PITA.
Seems at odds with this article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidium_vulgare.
We call them tanks in our house =)
They are harmless, but they do like humidity and damp. It might not be rotting wood, it can just be that with the spring and drier weather they are seeking darker, cooler and damper areas. It's possible also that the new carpet was in a warehouse with 60%+ humidity and they hitched a ride to your house. Worth checking the humidity level and using a dehumidifier for a few days as they'll leave you alone as soon as it's too dry for them.
I could never get rid of them in my old garage. They'd hide in there and die as it was cold and dark, but nothing at all in there for them to eat. Every once in a while I'd have to vacuum hundreds of their carcasses.
We called them cheese logs when I was a kid - no idea why.
Are you from Berkshire or thereabouts? My Reading friends called them cheeselogs whereas in Marlow they were just woodlice or occasionally peabugs.
Woodlice regional name variations are up there with bread rolls for identifying where you grew up. There’s a map I saw of the names somewhere.
Edit: just seen your location haha!
Last edited by Plake; 7th April 2023 at 07:54.
Chucky Pig
I think the creatures in your image are pill millipedes, see the "Pillbugs and pill millipedes" seciton here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse
I think they might be Pedalternorotandomovens centroculatus articulosus.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Was out waking earlier today and spotted this….
Slow worm/lizard not snake.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Its markings are beautiful - hopefully it's tail will regrow, at least partly, in time
Dropped its tail end at some point….probably attacked by something
Always called them Hardbacks. Had a few recently finding their way in through our pvc door threshold. Haven’t seen many spiders in the house this year though. Probably not a coincidence.