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Old 04-04-2009, 01:43 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
David Hare-Scott[_2_] David Hare-Scott[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2008
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Default Is this a millipede?

Sam wrote:
I don't have a picture. I'll try to get one, the little buggers are
FAST! When I was working my garden soil, I discovered I have a ton of
orange thin worm/millipedes all thru my soil. They were maybe 2
inches long w/ a ton of legs. Their body was very skinny.

Do I need to do something to get rid of these things, or are they OK.
Does anyone have an idea as to what they might be?


You need to catch and examine one, be careful as centipedes can have a
danderous bite. If they have one pair of legs per body segment they are
centipedes, which are carnivores, they will not harm your plants and spend
their day eating little bugs in or on the soil, leave them be. If they have
two pairs of legs per body segment they are millipedes which do not bite
humans. They mainly eat vegetable garbage in or near the soil but they can
also damage small plants. They are part of the natural re-cycling squad and
unless you are sure they are damaging plants leave them be also.

David