MILLIPEDES AND CENTIPEDES Integrated Pest Management In and Around the Home sprouting seeds, seedlings, or straw- berries and other ripening fruits in contact with the ground. Sometimes individual millipedes wander from their moist living places into homes, but they usually die quickly because of the dry conditions and lack of food. Occasionally, large (size varies) (size varies) numbers of millipedes migrate, often uphill, as their food supply dwindles or their living places become either Figure 1. Millipede (left); Centipede (right). too wet or too dry. They may fall into swimming pools and drown. Millipedes and centipedes (Fig. 1) are pedes curl up. The three species When disturbed they do not bite, but often seen in and around gardens and found in California are the common some species exude a defensive liquid may be found wandering into homes. millipede, the bulb millipede, and the that can irritate skin or burn the eyes. Unlike insects, which have three greenhouse millipede. clearly defined body sections and Life Cycle three pairs of legs, they have numer- Millipedes may be confused with Adult millipedes overwinter in the ous body segments and numerous wireworms because of their similar soil. Eggs are laid in clutches beneath legs. Like insects, they belong to the shapes. Wireworms, however, are the soil surface. The young grow largest group in the animal kingdom, click beetle larvae, have only three gradually in size, adding segments the arthropods, which have jointed pairs of legs, and stay underneath the and legs as they mature. They mature bodies and legs and no backbone. soil surface. in 2 to 5 years and continue to live for Their bodies are covered with a shell- several years thereafter. like covering called an exoskeleton. Habitat and Importance There are several features that distin- Millipedes normally live in and feed Control guish a millipede from a centipede. on rotting leaves and wood and other Millipedes seldom need to be con- (Table 1). kinds of moist decaying plant matter. trolled. Keep in mind that they do no Generally, their role is a beneficial damage indoors and pose no health MILLIPEDES one in helping to break down dead hazard. Those that stray indoors can Description plant matter. However, when they be swept out or picked up with a Millipedes, or “thousand-leggers,” are become numerous, they may damage vacuum cleaner. Sealing cracks and brownish, elongated, cylindrical to slightly flattened creatures, with two (most common) or four pairs of tiny legs per body segment. Millipedes TABLE 1. How to Tell Millipedes and Centipedes Apart. don’t really have a thousand legs; even the largest ones have somewhat Millipede Centipede less than a hundred. When they walk, pairs of legs/body segment 2 or 4 1 their legs move in an undulating last legs extend backward no yes wavelike manner. Adult millipedes moves rapidly no yes vary from 1/2 to 61/2 inches in length. attempts to bite no yes When prodded or at rest, most milli- PEST NOTES Publication 7472 University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources March 2000 March 2000 Millipedes and Centipedes rapidly. Unlike millipedes, centipedes never coil up when disturbed. Garden centipedes (symphylids) (Fig. 3) may be confused with true centi- pedes but are white, less than 1/4 inch in length, and have 12 pairs of legs as (actual size) adults. Symphylids live in damp soil (actual size) where they sometimes attack under- Figure 2. House centipede. ground portions of plants. They are Figure 3. Garden centipede. associated with soils that are high in organic matter. other openings to the outside helps and generally play a beneficial role in prevent them from entering. Usually Habitat and Importance the garden. Their activities should be invasions are over within a few days. Centipedes usually are found in damp, encouraged in the yard. Reductions in dark places, such as under stones, leaf the number of household centipedes Eliminating moist hiding places mulch, or logs. Indoors, centipedes occur when their food source—other around the home will kill or discour- may occur in damp areas of base- household pests—is controlled. Air- age millipedes. Outdoors, this in- ments, closets, or bathrooms, or any- ing out damp places may help. Out- cludes removing rotting wood and where in the home where insects doors, centipede control is aided by decaying grass and leaves from occur. During the day they hide in dark the removal of debris as recom- around the house’s foundation. This cracks and crevices, coming out at mended for millipedes. also eliminates millipede food night to search for insects to eat. sources. If there is excessive moisture Although some pesticides are labeled in subfloor crawl spaces or base- House centipedes are actually benefi- for controlling centipedes, their use is ments, take measures to dry out these cial—they capture flies, cockroaches, rarely justified. Be especially careful areas. and other small household pests. to avoid products containing diazinon They never damage plants or house- and chlorpyrifos, which pose prob- Application of insecticides is rarely hold items. lems for aquatic invertebrates and justified for millipede control. If you must be kept out of storm water or decide to apply pesticides, avoid When provoked, a few large kinds of sewer drains. materials such as diazinon and centipedes can inflict a painful bite chlorpyrifos, which pose hazards to that may cause localized swelling, COMPILED FROM: aquatic invertebrates and should not discoloration, and numbness. Moore, W. S., and C. S. Koehler. 1986. be allowed to get into storm water or Millipedes and Centipedes. Oakland: sewer drains. Life Cycle Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat. Res. Leaflet Adult centipedes overwinter in se- 7172. CENTIPEDES cluded moist places. Eggs are usually Description placed in damp soil in the spring and REFERENCE Centipedes, or “hundred-leggers,” are summer. Some centipede species add Shelley, R. M. 1999. Centipedes and elongated, flattened animals, bearing segments and legs as they grow; others millipedes with emphasis on North one pair of legs per body segment. are born with a complete set. Centi- American fauna. Kansas School Natu- The actual total number of legs in pedes require 2 to 3 years to mature, ralist. Vol. 45, No. 3. Emporia, KS: most species is closer to 30 than to and have been known to live 6 years. Emporia State University. 16 pp. 100. Adult centipedes are usually brownish and over 1 inch in length. Control The house centipede (Fig. 2), a spe- Centipedes seldom need to be con- cies that commonly invades buildings, trolled unless they become a nuisance has long legs that enable it to run in the home. Centipedes are predators ◆ 2 ◆ March 2000 Millipedes and Centipedes For more information contact the University of California Cooperative Extension or agri- cultural commissioner’s office in your coun- ty. See your phone book for addresses and phone numbers. CONTRIBUTORS: M. L. Flint, J. Klotz, V. Lazaneo, V. Lewis, E. Mussen, M. Rust, A. Slater EDITOR: B. Ohlendorf TECHNICAL EDITOR: M. L. Flint ILLUSTRATIONS: Millipede (Fig. 1), House Centipede (Fig. 2): Millipedes and Centi- pedes, UC DANR Leaflet 7172. Centipede (Fig. 1): D. Kidd. Garden centipede (Fig. 3): Hilgardia II (3):78 (Jan. 1938). DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: M. Brush PRODUCED BY IPM Education and Publica- WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS tions, UC Statewide IPM Project, University Pesticides are poisonous. Always read and carefully follow all precautions and safety recommendations given of California, Davis, CA 95616-8620 on the container label. Store all chemicals in the original labeled containers in a locked cabinet or shed, away from food or feeds, and out of the reach of children, unauthorized persons, pets, and livestock. This Pest Note is available on the World Confine chemicals to the property being treated. Avoid drift onto neighboring properties, especially gardens Wide Web (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu) containing fruits and/or vegetables ready to be picked. Dispose of empty containers carefully. Follow label instructions for disposal. Never reuse the containers. Make sure empty containers are not accessible to children or animals. Never dispose of containers where they may contaminate water supplies or natural waterways. Do not pour down sink or toilet. Consult your county agricultural commissioner for correct ways of disposing of excess pesticides. 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