That's terrible they're going after your hostas like this. Maybe it's the combo of iron phosphate and spinosad that works? It doesn't look like the Captain Jack's has that. I've never needed the Plus, but hopefully someone who has can report if they've have good results killing sow bugs.

I do like your security team. I bet they do a better job with rodents unless they're strictly indoors like mine who are good at moth patrol.

are you guys in denial .. or have i not had enough coffee???

its october ... nature is beginning the decomposing of material ...

do understand.. what you are doing.. is PREVENTION for next season ... rather than rescue or cure for this season ... perhaps this midset will help your attack plan ....

i never fought sow bugs .. so dont know where to tell you to go with that ...

after removal of the gelatinous pile of what is left of your hosta ... in a few weeks.. some peeps use a 10% vinegar around the crowns to kill momma and her eggs.. for prevention for next season ....

ken

Unfortunately the bugs go dormant over the winter, so the number I have now is the number i'll start off with in the spring better to get it under control now plus they will destroy hosta tips in the spring. ......... as for the security team they are full time indoor, the white one sleeping INSIDE my pants is Moo Shu aka The Moosh he does like to eat bugs. The big fat brown tonkinese is Sammy, she just had eye surgery , is too lazy to eat bufgs

Ken the hosta are still putting out growth here, no frost till well after halloween sometimes not till mid December.

Sorry to hear you are still battling the sowbugs. (Very cute security guards though.) Thanks for the credits in regards to the link.

I found another article which stated a couple of things of interest. It said their habitat are "Moist micro-climates, including damp, dark spaces and wooded areas.
Prime habitats are under stones or in decaying wood. In cities, they
frequent gardens, along house foundations and basements." Also "Sowbugs and pillbugs begin reproductive efforts in March and April. Two
to three broods are raised during the summer. Each brood consists of
30-40 young, which are incubated for 34 days in the brood pouch. The
brood pouch is located under the female's body, between the second and
fifth pair of legs. The pouch is filled with fluid which protects the
young while they are developing." https://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1924#.V-2iZ_SGOCk.

Also "Although they don't live in water, sowbugs and pillbugs are still highly
dependent on water for survival. They need to stay moist to survive, so
they actively scavenge for food only in the cool of the night. To
prevent dehydration during the day, they seek dark, moist areas to hide
and rest. Sowbugs and pillbugs often gather in groups, huddling together
to reduce evaporation. Some even burrow into the ground to keep their
gills wet. Gills are the primary breathing apparatus for all
crustaceans, and must remain moist in order to function." https://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1924#.V-2iZ_SGOCk

So it seems to me that there must be an issue with drainage in that
area. Is there also any decaying matter? Any way you could dry it out? I am afraid that if you are
successful in greatly reducing or eliminating the sowbug population, they may reappear
if the area continues to be constantly moist or if the decaying matter
is not removed. How large an area are we talking about?

Too funny, patricia mets! Thanks for the laugh!

it actually dries out pretty fast the neighbor has massive multiple maple trees about 25 feet from the area and I have 5 kousa dogwood in that area. My yard is only 100x100 feet the drainage on the south shore of long island very good, lots of sand under the loam. I don't mulch at all ever, never have. What amazed me was these bugs are clustered by the handfuls in the base of each violet and in the hosta and in the ostrich ferns, you could literally scoop them up by the cupful. I have stopped watering but we are all of a sudden getting rain. I stripped the bed in that area to bare dirt, removed all of the violets and even a few perennials. The the sheer number of them is bewildering. I've never seen them before ever. we have the fat gray roly poly guys that you find under things about 4 times bigger then these little bitty ones. sprayed with the jacks 3 times they are still kicking. I am truly stumped as to why I have the little bastards. And why are they going to come out of the hosta to eat snail bait when they have lovely hostas and perrenials to munch ? I really don't want to go back to spraying everything.There are less due to the violet removal many went in the bucket with the violets. I was wondering if you thought this would work (or if my desperation is making me crazy )... What if I tented each plant in a large garbage bag and gave it a bit of a fumigation with some household Raid or other pyrethrum aerosol? ........ THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LINKS AND RESEARCH IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED..............The security guards are good The Moosh caught something crunchy in the living room which I sure he will happily regurgitate either on the bed or next to the bed where I will step in it later ;0

It seems to me (from the articles) that the key point is that these sowbugs NEED to have moisture to survive. So could it be that that area (and the plants) never dried out between waterings and this allowed the sowbug population to grow? If you have stopped watering, then that would help. But if you have a lot of rain, then the sowbugs will be happy again. Is it possible to cover up (at least a portion of this area) so that no rain can penetrate it? That might be a good experiment. Basically I think drying out this area might be key to getting these sowbugs until control.

As for your experiment of tenting each plant in a garbage bag and then spraying is certainly worth a try. What have you got to lose?

These bugs are nocturnal so, if possible, I would go out at night to spray.

Perhaps you have a good garden nursery you could visit to consult with? If so, I would bring pictures.

Ortho Bug-Geta Plus are pellets that kill sowbugs and pillbugs. I bought it from Home Depot. Unfortunately since it is the end of the growing season, they may not have it in stock. I would suggest that you pick some up next year and begin to apply early in the spring. Good luck. Hope you have some success!

Covering the ground is an excellent idea. The sluggo plus is on order. Of course it rains buckets after a drought all summer. I took some pics to show the area better.

Most affected hostas, most of the margins chewed off. leaves look like lace. stripped all the plants I could out of the foreground. ps this was clean 2 days ago. wish damn bugs would eat the kousa fruit cuz nothing else does.

bigger overall, drought stressed kousa and enormous neighbors maples.

I wonder if the cause of this is the fact the neighbor to the north , never ever ever waters, yard is a pig sty, even the weeds died this year....... they killed MUGWORT!!!..... Maybe I have the bugs because it is a desert over there....... Besides the dog poo smell from that pack of BUMPUS' dogs they have!

Okay now I believe this is the source of the plague. This was bone dry all summer ( it's been pouring for days in this pic taken this am) This pile is right behind the fence in my other pics. I live next to the BUMPUS family!! .....how about a barrier spray? a miniature sheep dog to herd them back? They lost one of the pack a little yappy one this summer I think it's in the pile. ARRRGGGGH:(

Thanks for the pictures, I see there is no love lost between you and the neighbor! That pile of debris could be the biggest problem in regards to your sowbug problem. There probably isn't much you can do about the neighbor unfortunately. Or is there? Are there any bylaws in your area against this?

I think I would plan on moving the hostas and anything by the fence and leaving a foot or so clear so that the ground could thoroughly dry there. I would also get the pellets (I know you've ordered them) and routinely apply them. I still wonder whether the sowbugs are attracted to the decaying kousa fruit. Have you gone out at night to see where the sowbugs are and what they are eating?

I've been bug hunting in my nightie-(not a pretty sight) I can see the little (insertbadwordhere) 's. they don't eat kousa fruit. Nor does any kind of bug, squirrels, possums, voles, woodchucks or birds. I am going to take a chainsaw to them soon. .....plus damage started before they fruited.

Had a very nice visit with the plant lady at Agway, she was shocked sowbugs-not a problem here. U sure? Yup! I brought pic's she went out back, came back yes that's them. Went thru the pesticide books. Rose-x and 8 are the treatment.

Hubby & Ms. Agway came up with a plan. Bought 15 lbs of diam earth, spread a thick 6" line along the property line (100') & made a barrier per Ms A. Hubby then sprayed into Hosta with dormant oil, his idea. The oil should suffocate the bugs.

I am glad that you are finding things that you can try and do to get rid of the sowbugs. The diatomaceous earth sounds like a great product to try. Good luck with the diat. earth and the dormant oil. I am hoping this will be the solution to this infestation!

SUCCESS! well a little bit anyway, checked 2 hosta most of the apartments seem to be empty, no movement on the play grounds, don't see any tenants at all :) will still be putting out the slug bait.....needs to be a bit drier out, and will spray again. Thank you NEWHOSTALADY your info on the gills is what gave the hubby the oil spray idea.

I will refresh the DE maginot line as needed.

and:::::: Happy JoY JoY Dance::::::: hubby caught a vole, trap was only out a few hours. Theres probably 40 more but it's a start.

Security guard #2 has stitches out of her eye lid and looks so much better.

I am happy to hear that the information I passed on was of use to you. Sounds like you are on a roll now! Good job!

Glad to hear your unwanted tenants are moving on and that SG#2 is on the mend. Stitches in eyelid... Ouch!

SG#2 was a sweetheart about the stitches did not need to use the cone of shame. Her eye was so irritated by her lashes that I think is was a relief. Thanks everyone for the help! ...

ps all the traps were sprung this morning and peanut butter expertly cleaned off. tricky voles!