Hi Meredith, I had a woodlouse graveyard in my old basement apartment, right under the kitchen table, where all the Armadillidium seemed to go to die. I thought at first they were attracted to something nearby but soon realized it was the driest part of the apartment. I think what might have been happening was they would venture out from the damp walls, get that far into the kitchen where the RH was too low for them, and die. We also saw a lot of woodlouse hunting spiders (Dysdera crocata) suggesting we had a large enough population of “pill bugs” as I called them then to support their predators.
While I wouldn’t worry about the wooden sculptures (despite the name “wood” louse Stephan is quite right: they are unlikely to be attracted to wood for food) I would address the damp conditions if possible. Besides being directly detrimental to the collection, damp areas can harbor a lot of “nuisance” pests that then provide food for other, more high risk, pests like dermestid beetles. It’s possible your woodlice are present in the building in higher numbers and not just wandering in from outside. Especially if the little fellow to the right of the two adults is a nymph, though it’s hard to tell from that photo. Thanks for reminding me about my old college accomodations. Ah the memories… ;). And good luck with your gallery. I adore that little sand piper(?) sculpture in the photo. Best, Katy Katharine Corneli Collections Manager | Conservator Prehistoric Museum<https://eastern.usu.edu/museum/> Office: 435-613-5765 Email: katharine.corn...@usu.edu<mailto:katharine.corn...@usu.edu> [cid:14962061-2FAF-4E35-AB43-45898538268B] From: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Stephan Biebl Sent: Thursday, May 6, 2021 1:23 PM To: pestlist@googlegroups.com Subject: [EXT] [PestList] AW: Woodlouse question Hello Meredith, if I were a woodlouse, these painted wooden sculptures doesn´t address me, because leaves and foliage outside the building are the better food source for me. That’s means, woodlouse just get lost in rooms over leaking doors or windows and normally don´t make damages to wood inside buildings. In the nighttime you could find them crawling up on the walls outside, where they could find cracks to turn inside. So check your gallery rooms of leaks, catch the woodlouse with blunder traps and do not worry about your wooden sculptures :- ) Best, Stephan Germany Von: pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com> <pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com>> Im Auftrag von Meredith Wiemer Gesendet: Donnerstag, 6. Mai 2021 21:02 An: pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com> Betreff: [PestList] Woodlouse question Hello all, I regularly find woodlouse that have expired (1-2 weekly) on the floor of a 4th floor gallery space at my museum. This gallery has seasonal dampness on the walls and floor perimeter, which has historically been my rationale for why these critters tend to congregate there. However, there are also several large wooden sculptures installed in that space that I’m concerned about. The wood is very dry and I have seen no evidence of fresh entry/exit holes or frass. Do the experts think that woodlouse would be interested in these? Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated, thank you! Best, Meredith Meredith Wiemer Associate Collections Registrar Pronouns: She, Her, Hers Portland Museum of Art Seven Congress Square Portland, Maine 04101 PH: (207) 775-6148, ext. 3237 (Shipping: 99 Spring Street) mwie...@portlandmuseum.org<mailto:mwie...@portlandmuseum.org> portlandmuseum.org<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fportlandmuseum.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ca0b406c861f64b915dac08d848f51044%7Cde779ff52395482bb83ed9271bc5dad2%7C0%7C0%7C637339564661111374&sdata=raKccf%2FkxXSh1lGkBrXzmL6iR4QPKQ2oTgOlIcx4yBM%3D&reserved=0> [A picture containing indoor, dirty Description automatically generated] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The materials in this electronic mail transmission (including all attachments) are private and confidential and are the property of the sender. The information contained in the material is privileged and intended only for the use of the named addressee. 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