Does anyone know what this little guy is? They are familiar to me and I've seen them previous years but this year there seems to be a TON of them all over one of my gardens. Last night I saw them on the leaves of an echinacea and it looked like something was eating the leaves so I assumed them but I never knew them to be an issue before. If it is these insects eating my plants, how do I get rid of them?
Thanks.
These are terrestrial crustaceans in the order Isopoda, commonly known as sowbugs or woodlice. They basically are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter. Very rarely, they may damage tender vegetation, but they usually are not primary pests on plants.
I guess that would explain why I have so many this year. Last fall I took the shredded leaves from the mower and sprinkled them over three of my gardens. This spring I mulched over those leaves and now I'm seeing these things all over the place out there. It must be the decomposing leaves that is attracting them. Oh well I guess I'll leave them be and let them do their job.
