brodie on wed 27 may 98

Diane Ridout wrote:

Centipedes supposedly eat slugs (YES!!!!!), caterpillars, and assorted
other pests; they also eat decaying plant matter. Centipedes are the guys
that have one pair of legs per body segment.

Millipedes also eat decaying matter, but if you have poor drainage they
might decide your root crops qualify. Millipedes have two pairs of legs
per body segment. If you have good drainage and lots of organic matter in
your soil, millipedes will probably do more good than harm.

I've never seen either species go after an earthworm, but then all these
guys hang out underground and I don't; they may have some habits I haven't
yet learned about.

Carol (and Brodie)
zone 8

Henry Puhl on thu 28 may 98

Well that's good news about the slug diet. Not so good for the slugs I
suppose. I've always been a very proficient slug farmer able to raise and care
for large numbers. I never could mash them quick enough. I have recently
noticed a large increase in the centipede population in my yard and
unfortunately in the basement of my house. They really freak my wife out. I
wish I could get them to wear a cow bell or something cause they always seem
to sneak up on her. I think they are facinating to watch. Thanks for the good
news!!

brodie wrote:

Diane Ridout on thu 28 may 98

(snip)

Thanks for the response, Carol. It makes sense to me that they might also
go after an earthworm or two as a change of pace, but they don't seem to
be decimating the populations or anything...

Thanks for the information!

Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
12666-72 Avenue doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8 cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................