How do ah stop th' doodlebugs from eatin' mah strawberries?

[Gold Metal Flake]

I want to eat them all and not share with the doodlebugs! All for daddy! How can I get rid of the doodles without damaging my DNA?

[MajorChode]

1. It's best to figure out exactly what type(s) of bugs you have and treat them selectively

Treating strawberries can be tricky because a wide range of bugs go after them and some types are hard to treat. I generally like to grow strawberries in containers for this reason.

If you are concerned about pesticide residue, you can buy a home unit that makes ozonated water.
http://www.amazon.com/Tersano-lotus-LBU100-Sanitizing-System/dp/B000P9MC2K

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. I did post doodlebug. AKA pillbug, woodlice or Armadillidiidae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidiidae




Well, some searching turned up this:

http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/CIS/CIS1169.pdf

And this:

http://www.bugspray.net/pillbugs/pill-bugs-eating-strawberries.html

[MajorChode]

3. OK, never heard them called doodlebugs before

I've always called them roly polies. Both of the insecticides mentioned are pretty harsh stuff. One is organic and the other is simply the synthetic version of the same thing. By harsh I mean they are broad spectrum and will kill both beneficial and problem bugs. Neither will do all that well at repelling more bugs either. If I were you, I would try Diatomaceous Earth(DE) first. It's very cheap, organic, and extremely safe to use (it's an ingredient in tooth paste). Roly polies must crawl to your strawberries and that is their weakness. Although DE feels soft to the touch, to bugs it's like crawling over razor blades. So not only will it kill the bugs you apply it to, it will keep them away if sprinkled around your strawberries.

Edit: Once you water you will have to reapply DE, so apply it after you have watered and it's soaked in well.

[wildeyed]

4. I have used DE on doodle bugs (I hate them) with good results.

Do need to remember to re-apply after it rains.