“I have been finding these little things crawling up my rough patio wall and my patio floor,” writes Kelli in central California about the brown, worm-like animal pictured below. “Also, they’ve been trying to get in the door. I would like to know what they are called and how to get rid of them. So far, ten tons of salt doesn’t kill them: they crawl through it. And are they harmful to my little Yorkie terrier and to humans? The pictures I’ve included are magnified so that you can see exactly what they look like. They are anywhere from 1/2 an inch to approximately one inch in length. They are very thin (thinner than a branch from a tree). I didn’t notice until I took a picture that one of them has a lot of legs like a millipede. But their actions don’t appear to be as explained. Also, they crawl a little faster than a slug. They come out no matter if it’s nice and sunny, cold, rainy and wet, or morning, noon or night. They also curl up in an almost circle when you sweep them. Please help me identify them, and tell me how to get rid of them once and for all, as well as if they are poisonous to pets and humans. By the way, I have no plant matter on my patio to my apartment, but the grounds do have trees, bushes, and some plants and wood chips. I love in central California and want to enjoy my patio! Thank you.”

Well, let’s just get right into it. We think Kelli has indeed found millipedes, and from the multiple pictures she sent in, more than just one of the critters possesses multiple sets of legs, which confirms this identification. The multitude of legs sprouting from the underside of their bodies, which are split into multiple segments, points to the conclusion that these are friendly arthropod that so many fear. Unlike their cousin centipede, millipedes are not poisonous, and should not be feared by humans or pets. That said, they can release a foul-smelling toxin if threatened that, if touched, could cause irritation of the skin, but this is ultimately not harmful, and a professional’s help is not needed in such cases. It is not uncommon for millipedes to show up in droves on people’s patios or decks, and the reason for this is because they are seeking shelter from the weather. In Kelli’s case, the millipedes are likely trying to escape dry heat, as they thrive in cool, humid conditions. Luckily, she does not seem to have found any inside her home, so the millipedes have been unsuccessful in finding a way in.

It is good that Kelli doesn’t have any plant matter on her patio, especially any plant debris (like piles of leaves or twigs), as millipedes like to hide in such matter, and when it is present, it only attracts millipedes. So, the best thing Kelli can do is keep her patio clean of plant matter, and move the millipedes when she finds them. Using salt will not kill millipedes: they are not bothered by like slugs or flatworms are, which is due to their exoskeleton. Like all arthropods, millipedes have a tough exterior shell that protects their bodies from a lot of threats. In addition to salt, insecticides typically have little to no effect on millipedes, the best form of control is prevention and moving the millipedes.

To conclude, the little worms Kelli found on her patio are actually millipedes, which are not worms at all. We do not recommend killing them, as they are friends of the ecosystem and are harmless. We hope this helps, and we wish Kelli the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Little Worms with Many Legs on Patio are Millipedes

Description

"I have been finding these little things crawling up my rough patio wall and my patio floor," writes Kelli in central California about the brown, worm-like animal pictured below. "Also, they've been trying to get in the door. I would like to know what they are called and how to get rid of them. So far, ten tons of salt doesn't kill them: they crawl through it. And are they harmful to my little Yorkie terrier and to humans? The pictures I've included are magnified so that you can see exactly what they look like. They are anywhere from 1/2 an inch to approximately one inch in length. They are very thin (thinner than a branch from a tree). I didn't notice until I took a picture that one of them has a lot of legs like a millipede. But their actions don't appear to be as explained. Also, they crawl a little faster than a slug. They come out no matter if it's nice and sunny, cold, rainy and wet, or morning, noon or night. They also curl up in an almost circle when you sweep them. Please help me identify them, and tell me how to get rid of them once and for all, as well as if they are poisonous to pets and humans. By the way, I have no plant matter on my patio to my apartment, but the grounds do have trees, bushes, and some plants and wood chips. I love in central California and want to enjoy my patio! Thank you."

Author

Worm Researcher Anton