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Ornamentals and Turf |
Delayed by dry weather, those fortunate enough to receive rain may begin to experience the annual march of the millipedes. Millipedes are gray to brown colored arthropods with worm-like, round bodies usually 0.5 to 1.5 inches in length. They have short antennae and up to 30 pairs of legs or more. Known as thousand-leggers, millipedes walk slowly with their legs moving in a wave-like motion. Millipedes curl up tightly when disturbed. Immature millipedes are smaller than the adults. Newly-hatched millipedes have only three pairs of legs. More legs appear with each molt. Garden millipedes feed only on decaying organic matter and consequently do not harm living plants unless the soil is allowed to dry to the point that the millipedes then feed on the roots to obtain moisture. I have heard from persons who sweep up peck basket quantities of millipedes from their driveways and patios day after day. Apparently, the millipedes build up in the yard, surrounding woods and mulch beds until the population is very large. Then the next time it rains, they emerge onto walks, patios, driveways, and crawl into dwellings. Millipedes require a damp environment, and dry weather will drive them back into the mulch of surrounding woods. Arthropod populations vary greatly from year to year. Our first suggestion is to try to reduce the moisture factor before applying chemicals. More information on the life cycle of millipedes and suggestions for their chemical control is provided in Residential Pest Note No. 27.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on July 8, 2002 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.
