Tara, this sounds like a DIY project to me.First, it's not likely that the pill
bugs or sow bugs are coming from the drain; more likely they are simply
attracted to the drain. Might there be a lot of organic mulch surrounding that
stairwell? If so, that's the source.Now, what to do about them --It sounds
like there is a moist environment at the bottom of the stairwell. If so
diatomaceous earth will not work well. It will simply cake! But let's do
three things. First, remove that drain cover once again, cut a piece of
aluminum or copper screen wire the same diameter as the drain, Place it on the
underside of the drain cover and set the two pieces back in place. Don't use
ferrous metal screen, It will rust through in no time at all!Next, Door sweeps
come in many configurations. Get one that is adjustable so that it will seal
properly.Now, let's take a look at the environment surrounding the stairwell.
If there is organic mulch of any type, remove it and replace it with inorganic
( lava rock, creek gravel, pea gravel, etc.) mulch.Finally, I said three
things, but let's make it 4. Place an insecticide containing bifenthrin,
permethrin or beta-cyfluthrin on the first 3 or 4 feet of the floor inside and
outside of the door. Apply that material up on the door frame and baseboard.
Any of those materials should give you about 3 months of protection.See if
those measures won't give you some relief.Forrest E. St. Aubin, BCEChair,
ESA-ACE Oversight CommitteeLiaison, ESA/NPMA12835 Pembroke CircleLeawood,
Kansas 66209Phone: 913.927.9588Fax: 913.345.8008E-mail:
[email protected]: www.saintaubinbce.com"Procrastination is
opportunity's assassin."Victor Kiam, entrepreneur1926-2001-----Original
Message-----From: "Kennedy, Tara" [[email protected]]date: 07/10/2009
12:09 PMTo: "[email protected]" Subject: Re: [pestlist] Sow and Pill Bug
problem Hi all- I have a problem with pill and sow bugs coming
inside a portion of our library. The area on the exterior has a drain at the
bottom of a cement stairwell, which leads to an old wooden door. The door
enters an area of our manuscripts processing area and they are inundated with
these pill and sow bugs - two large sticky traps can be filled in a week's
time. A sweep has been applied, but because of the age of the door, the sweep
does not work well enough. The drain cannot be closed off. Maintenance is
unreliable around here and I don't expect that the drain will be well cleaned
any time soon. I took the drain cover off of the drain and saw that there
are sow and pill bugs in the drain. This is definitely the source of the
problem. My question is this: can I put Diatomaceous Earth in and around the
drain on the exterior and will it help the problem? Would putting the same
underneath the door and the path leading to the door help as well? I just need
a way to dry up the drain that won't hurt anybody or anything but the pill and
sow bugs. Will this be effective? Or does anyone have any other
suggestions? Many thanks, Tara *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Tara
D. Kennedy Preservation Field Services Librarian Preservation Department
Yale University Sterling Memorial Library 130 Wall Street New Haven, CT
06511 (203) 432-4335 (Voice) (203) 432-9900 (FAX) [email protected]
"let me help you help your library!"
