Millipedes!
As I’ve started to grow my garden, I’ve also started to grow a few houseplants. I have a couple succulents, including the ever useful and difficult to kill Aloe Plant. I also have an incredibly hardy orange tree, that I’ve tried to kill several times in the last year and half, but it just keeps plugging on. It’s got three little green oranges on it right now! In Colorado!
Last weekend, I repotted the tree into a much larger pot, and noticed a handful of these little wormy/catapillar bugs in the tray below the plant. When I repotted the tree, the roots seemed in good shape, and I sunk the tree deeply in moist, rich, dark compost and then brought it back inside. A few days later, I was examining the roots and noticed that there was an explosion of the little wormies. I pulled a few out and eventually identified them as millipedes.
I always thought millipedes were much larger, and lived in outside gardens. However, this tree sat outside all summer last year, and seems to have picked up a bit of an “infestation.” The new, moist compost has made them VERY happy as well.
I’m left with a sort of a quandary here. The tree is big, and the pot is huge and heavy, so soaking the plant or roots to kill the buggies is not really possible. I have, after reading a bunch on the interwebs, learned that potted plants should only use sterilized potting soil. But this is a tree. Do trees grow in potting soil?
In a few weeks, it will be warm enough outside to move the tree back out, and then I don’t really care if there’s millipedes in the pot. They don’t seem to be harming the tree at all, especially if they’ve been in there all winter. My current line of attack is to fill the top inch of the soil with Diatomaceous Earth. I think this will keep the ‘pedes in the pot, at least until I move the tree outside again.
typically, i love gross worm things … but somehow these pictures kinda make me sick … ewww
granted, i know nothing about growing things, but i would bet that considering all the defecation going on in there, the millipedes are probably really good for your tree. lots of nutrients.
p.s. are millipedes poisonous to humans?
Yeah, as long as the ‘pedes aren’t eating the tree, they shouldn’t do much harm. I suppose we’ll find out if they help at all later!
And, I don’t think these tiny little guys could bite – if that’s what you’re asking about. Although, I did read about some millipedes that secrete cyanide! I guess you can smell that, though. It smells like chemicals. These ‘pedes don’t smell at all.
Hmmm, d. Are you asking if they’ll bite, or suggesting we fry ’em up and make up an appetizer!? Maybe we should start considering the buggies another harvest from my garden!
Ok, forget that last comment. DON’T EAT MILLIPEDES. Bad idea in general.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/undergroundadventure/critters/critter_info.shtml#millipede
Though, they are of the same phyllum as crustations (crabs, shrimp and lobsters). Interesting fact I just learned: the pill bug (or potato bug, or rolly-polly) is a very near cousin of the lobster! Wonder if it’s tasty too?
millipedes make me squirm. but, like many people, because of the nastiness and un-stiffy-ness of their bodies, it makes me want to learn more about them.
It’s an odd craving.
Good luck with your tree.
And as I have been doing research prior to this, I have learned that millipedes love moist areas, and are not poisonous.