Millipede Infestation

[Fabolusus]

I re potted 3 plants the other day, and all three were completely infested with millipedes! I really don't want to repot all 50 of my orchids. Is there a good systemic insecticide that would be safe for a variety of plants (oncidium,paphs,phals,etc.)?

[Tobi]

Fab,
I have read that Pyrethrum is a good 100% natural insecticide for combating
millipedes. It is extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and is only fatal to the
insects being targeted. It is water soluble, biologically safe, and residue free.
Not sure where to get it though, might try searching the web.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by Fabolusus

I re potted 3 plants the other day, and all three were completely infested with millipedes! I really don't want to repot all 50 of my orchids. Is there a good systemic insecticide that would be safe for a variety of plants (oncidium,paphs,phals,etc.)?

Fabolusus, sorry to read this and sorry, I'm not sure what you should use although, I see already others have responded. I'm curious, how many did you find? I found one on my patio about 2 months ago and another one, just a few weeks ago and they were both huge, at least 4" long, 1&1/2" wide. I couldn't believe what I was looking at, never saw these before. Infested? Frightening....

[slippery_biscuit]

I don't usually mind bugs, but when they approach the size of a small rodent... well, images of Holloween movies come to mind. Good luck getting rid of them. If I found one as Sandra describes I think I would grab my shotgun before the insecticide.

[Fabolusus]

There were alot... maybe 10-20 per 6 inch pot. None were over 1 inch . I'm going to try my local plant shop, but I doubt anyone there will be able to help me. It always amazes how the people who work at the PLANT shop don't really know anything about PLANTS!

[kmarch]

I have millipedes in all my outdoor orchids, they're common here. I've never seen any detrimental impact on my orchids. I do not know whether they eat decaying plant matter (bark) or roots.

If your orchids are outdoors you could probably get away with doing nothing. If you're bringing them in for the winter, immersing the pot in water for a few minutes will force them out (or drown them) then you can dispose of them as you like.

[jbigio]

Originally Posted by slippery_biscuit

I don't usually mind bugs, but when they approach the size of a small rodent... well, images of Holloween movies come to mind. Good luck getting rid of them. If I found one as Sandra describes I think I would grab my shotgun before the insecticide.

Note to self dont tick her off

[Tess1]

You should ask Anton about millipedes, we get millions of them here, but in Adelaide they arrive in their trillions at a certain time of year, outside and inside houses. They are quite smelly if you step on one.

[snowballsarebad]

Ugh, how unlucky! I wouldn't even want to pick up the pots after finding millipedes, they are almost as bad (to me) as earwigs. I don't know if they are bad for the plants, but I certainly wouldn't want them around me! Good luck with getting rid of them. Oh, with earwigs at least...I found flushing the pots gets rid of them pretty well, they hate the water. Not sure if that will work on millipedes.

[kmarch]

A lot fo these creepy crawlies are icky but I dont' think they're harmful.

[maninair]

They are harmless to orchids. They eat only the decaying matters and other small insects. So dont worry, be happy.

[Vivienne]

Originally Posted by maninair

So dont worry, be happy.

At least until it's time to repot again. LOL

I like the 'immerse the pot in water' idea to drown them.

[Fabolusus]

Yeah, I think I'll try that. I read this article on wikipedia:

Millipede - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the first paragraph, it says that "Signs of millipede damage include the stripping of the outer layers of a young plant stem and irregular damage to leaves and plants."

[WIB]

Some people keep (and even buy) them as pets. Mostly they're after decaying vegetable matter, although they may munch on, and damage, seedlings. -- Bill