Are Millipedes Beneficial To Indoor Plants?

Millipedes, nocturnal insects with 1,000 legs, can cause problems for houseplants, especially when limited to a small area. They aid decomposition by eating organic matter like fallen leaves, but indoors, they might be forced to munch on living plant material. Healthy plants are less attractive to millipedes and other houseplant pests. Prevention is the key to keeping millipedes out of your houseplants.

Millipedes are nocturnal and shy away from light, so they can be found in garages, basements, or the lowest level of the house. They are harmless to potted plants and humans, but manual picking or manual removal may be necessary. Millipedes have little effect on healthy plants, eating decaying debris or dead plants like fallen leaves or other yard waste. They also eat young seedlings, posing a concern if they enter. Millipedes feed on decaying organic matter, such as dead leaves and wood chips, which can often be found in the soil of potted plants.

Damage caused by millipedes is usually found in the garage, basement, or lowest level, although they may wander into other parts of the house. Millipedes in greenhouses, gardens, and potted plants may be annoying but do not feed on the plants unless the plant is laready damaged or decayed. Millipedes can also be beneficial, feeding on the compost pile and decomposing plant matter.

Despite their potential harm to plants, millipedes are not harmful in the garden and are actually quite beneficial since they help convert organic matter into plant food to help plants grow. House plant soil is primarily peat-based and a great place for millipedes to hide and nest. While centipedes and millipedes rarely harm healthy plants, many people dislike the idea of them taking residence in their homes.

Should I kill millipedes?

Millipedes are not harmful to humans and can be beneficial in compost piles, breaking down contents. However, they can cause damage to plants by destroying seedlings or feeding on vegetables. To prevent millipede infestations, eliminate moisture in garden areas, replace old mulch with fresh ones, and dispose of raked leaves in compost piles. Aerate lawns to reduce thatch, move items that could provide a habitat for millipedes away from homes, elevate items that cannot be moved, install gravel between foundations and flower beds, seal cracks in foundations, and seal around door and basement windows.

Use a dehumidifier to decrease humidity in your home, water lawns in the morning to dry them out, and contact a licensed pest control company to inspect your home for entry points and set up a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan.

Can you keep a millipede as a pet?

Millipedes, a giant millipede native to Africa, are easy to keep as pets due to their small size and exotic forms. They belong to the Class Diplopoda and require simple housing, including soil, shelter, moisture, and food. A cage should be at least twice as long as the longest individual, with a small aquarium or large sweet jar being ideal. The cage should be escape-proof, with high humidity and damp soil.

To prevent soil drying, glue or tape a plastic bag inside the lid and pierce holes on the bag. Heating may be necessary, either using a heat mat under the tank or a warm airing cupboard. Regularly check the soil’s moisture. Millipedes thrive on substrate soil or peat-free compost mixed with dead leaves, which can be supplemented with various food items from the kitchen. Other vitamins and minerals are needed for their health, such as fish food or rabbit pellets. Calcium is crucial, and cuttlefish, usually given to aviary birds, is essential.

Water should not be necessary unless the cage is kept fairly dry. Instead, place a damp pad of cotton wool in the cage, or mist it daily with a hand sprayer without pesticides. This will help maintain the health and well-being of your millipede as a pet.

Do millipedes like soil?

Millipedes are found in every U. S. state, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands, and thrive in moist soil beneath decaying leaf litter or mulch. They lack stingers or pinchers to fend off predators and rely on their hard exoskeleton as a first line of defense. Some species can produce hydrogen cyanide, a toxic liquid. Millipedes move slowly through soil and organic matter, breaking down dead plant material and rejuvenating the soil. They lay eggs in the soil each spring, and after each molting, they consume their exoskeletons to gain back valuable nutrients.

What’s the difference between a centipede and a millipede?

Millipedes and centipedes are two species of insects with distinct body segments. Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment, while centipedes have one set per segment on the side. They primarily eat insects after killing them with venom, while millipedes feast on decomposing plants. Millipedes have a flatter body and respond differently to threats, coiling up and releasing a smelly secretion, while centipedes bite and run away quickly.

They are considered “cousins” in the animal kingdom due to their similar segmented bodies, poor vision, and preference for dark environments. The longest species of each measure about six inches in length.

Why shouldn’t you touch a millipede?

Millipedes are worm-like bugs that release harmful substances when threatened or handled roughly. These toxins keep predators away and can spray up to 32 inches (80 centimeters) in some species. Contact with these secretions may cause allergic reactions in some people. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used to treat or manage an actual toxin exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number or contact your poison control center directly. Millipedes release toxins such as hydrochloric acid, hydrogen cyanide, organic acids, phenol, cresols, benzoquinones, and hydroquinones.

Are centipedes or millipedes more aggressive?

Millipedes and centipedes are two pests that are not considered dangerous to humans or pets. Millipedes curl into a tight ball, emitting a foul-smelling fluid that can cause irritation to the skin and eyes if handled, and can bite humans on occasion. Centipedes bite humans on occasion, leaving a red bump that can swell, itch, or sting. Despite their defensive mechanisms, neither pest is known to transmit diseases or contaminate food, furniture, or plants.

To prevent these pests, homeowners can repair leaks, remove standing water, remove moisture-holding ground cover and organic material near the home’s foundation, store firewood away from the house and elevated off the ground, and seal low-to-the-ground doors or windows.

Do millipedes carry mites?

When adequately cared for, millipedes appear to exhibit minimal health issues in captivity. It is not uncommon to find them infested with mites.

How bad are millipedes?

Millipedes are generally harmless and do not bite or sting when threatened. However, some individuals may experience mild symptoms from touching them or coming into contact with their spray. If a reaction occurs, wash your skin with soap and warm water, or use an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream to treat rashes. Avoid touching your eyes and wash out millipede secretions with water for 20 minutes before seeking professional medical care.

Millipedes can be found in dark, moist, and cool areas like basements, garages, crawl spaces, firewood, and compost piles. Check entry points like window wells and door gaps to avoid potential danger.

How many hearts does a millipede have?

The mummy is distinguished by a simple dorsal tube heart and a head-based brain and ventral nerve cord nervous system.

How long do millipedes live?

In contrast to other arthropods, millipedes have been observed to have a lifespan that extends between seven and ten years. In most male millipede species, the seventh segment is typically devoid of legs, which allows for the accommodation of gonopods or sex organs.

What is the best habitat for millipedes?

Millipedes require a simple housing system, including soil, shelter, moisture, and food. A cage should be at least twice as long as the longest individual, and should be escape-proof. Humidity should be maintained at high levels, and the soil should be damp. Plastic aquariums may cause issues due to their well-ventilated lids, so a plastic bag can be used to prevent soil drying. Heating may be necessary, either using a heat mat or a warm airing cupboard.

Millipedes thrive on substrate soil or peat-free compost mixed with dead leaves, which can be supplemented with various food items from the kitchen. Calcium is essential for their diet, and cuttlefish is usually given to aviary birds. Water should not be needed unless the cage is fairly dry. A damp pad of cotton wool or a hand sprayer can be used to keep the cage moist.

Breeding millipedes is challenging, but it is best to buy as many as possible and house them. Males have specialized legs on the seventh segment, while females and immature millipedes do not. It is difficult to determine if a specimen is an adult female or an immature male. If a specimen has a gap on the seventh segment, select a larger one that has not.

If the cage is kept damp and clean, millipedes should breed. Females lay eggs in a chamber built under the soil, hatching into tiny baby millipedes.