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pill bugs #870765

Asked May 30, 2024, 12:54 PM EDT

Do pill bugs have a symbiotic relationship with yellow jackets

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

Hi Robert,

I am a bee expert, so this is a little outside my range. I don't think there is much of a relationship between these insects, apart from pill bugs being something a yellowjacket would collect and bring back to their nest. Is there a reason you suspect an association?

Best,
Andony
Thank you for getting back to me. Last week I hired some fence builders to build
So a deer fence on our side yard. Three of them were stung repeatedly by what look like yellow jackets coming out of a hole in the ground next to the fence work, unfortunately I was forced to spray their exit hole with a bee insecticide,, it worked immediately and the bees or hornets I guess fell to the ground dead hundreds of them. About a minute later pill bugs came tumbling out of the hole I lost count but there was probably two or 300 and died, this was a huge nest that had been in the side of the hill . It was originally a chipmunk hole . I hope this makes sense thank you Bob Ziehl.

On Mon, Jun 3, 2024 at 1:34 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 04, 2024, 12:38 PM EDT
Hi Robert, 

This is a case of coincidence rather than association. Pill bugs are solitary insects and do not form colonies or nests. They can build in large numbers when there is excessive moisture and a lot of material for them to eat, which largely takes the form of plant fibers. 

Best,
Andony

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