Millipedes

Millipedes are detritivores and slow moving. Most millipedes eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter, moisturising the food with secretions and then scraping it in with the jaws. However they can also become a garden pest, especially in greenhouses where they can cause severe damage to emerging seedlings. Signs of millipede damage include the stripping of the outer layers of a young plant stem and irregular damage to leaves and plant apices. There are reports that millipedes eradicate thousands of Jatropha seedlings.

Prevention. Keep the nursery area clean. Millipedes feed on rubbish, decaying leaves, seed shells!! etc. and they prefer damp places. For smaller area's it is sufficient to surround your seedbeds with dry sand or wood ash, to prevent them from entering.

For larger area's chemical treatment with pesticides based on Cypermethrin will do the job.

NOTE: THE USE OF ANY RECOMMENDED TREATMENT ON THIS PAGE IS ON USERS OWN RISK AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOLLOWING LOCAL LAW AND REGISTRATION.