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What is this and are they bad for your garden? #868676

Asked May 16, 2024, 10:08 AM EDT

I have been invaded by these centipede looking worms. Do they damage your garden? If so what can I do to get rid of them without chemicals, or what bugs eat them?

Frederick County Maryland

Expert Response

No intervention should be needed. This is either a centipede or a millipede (it's hard to see enough detail to tell for certain), but neither damages plants. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment (one leg on each side of the segment) and millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment (two legs on each side of the segment). Centipedes are predatory and consume other invertebrates. Millipedes eat decaying organic matter, like already-dead plant roots, stems, or leaf litter, and help recycle nutrients back into the soil for live roots to absorb. As they wander through the soil, they also help to aerate it, adding channels for oxygen to reach roots and excess water to drain away, so both animals provide several benefits in a garden setting.

Miri

Thank you so much. I just wanted to make sure it was ok to plant my garden. Have a great day!

The Question Asker Replied May 16, 2024, 11:33 AM EDT

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