Millipedes

 Not dangerous, not related to Centipedes, but definitely gross - especially if you see one crawling across your floor !!! 

creepy bug

Description

 Millipedes are arthropods that are closely related to insects and spiders. They are dorsal-ventrally flattened and have a hard exoskeleton. 

Garden millipede

 Also known as the greenhouse millipede or flat-backed millipede - Oxidus gracilis – are not native to the United States but came from Asia. They are common throughout the country and most of the world.They differ from centipedes in that these have only one pair of legs on each body segment. 

Centipede

Habitat

 They are nocturnal, preferring dark, cool, moist habitats that are rich in dead and decaying organic matter. They have no eyes and rely on their antennae to navigate. During the day, they remain inactive. When disturbed, they often coil and stay motionless. 

Defensive curling habit

 Hot and dry environments may cause millipedes to migrate into more humid environments. 

Diet

 Millipedes eat decaying organic matter, including all kinds of plant materials such as leaf litter, mulch, and grass thatch. Because of this they are considered beneficial to your soil. However, in a pot inside your home they run out of their regular food source and start chomping on the roots. 

How to treat

 They do not have an exterior coating of waterproofing wax as insects do. So, despite their hard exoskeletons - millipedes are highly susceptible to drying out.Normal indoor humidity that is comfortable for humans is already too dry for millipedes. The key to their eradication is to dry out the soil - they desiccate and die rather quickly.You can add to their demise by dusting the soil with Diatomaceous earth. It’s a silica-based product that will also help mummify them. Any insecticidal soap will have the same effect – the salts of potassium will dry out the millipede. 

Diatomaceous earth

 If all else fails – there is always chemical warfare available. Both Amazon, or a Big Box store will have something you could use. Please use this as a last resort – you really don’t want to have these pesticides in your home. 

Giant millipede native to Western Africa - Thank God we don't have these in NYC !

Check your houseplants for millipedes !

Call us if you need help ! 

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK