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In this issue…
1. Millipedes and Centipedes
2. Dandelion Control
3. Q&A
4. Quick Facts
Warm, wet weather always encourages the activity of millipedes, and their near relatives, the centipedes. At times millipedes become so abundant, it may seem as though they are invading homes and other buildings. Millipedes are cylindrical, segmented, worm-like creatures, with two pairs of legs on each body segment, except for the last three, which have one pair. They are encouraged by wet conditions and by the overuse of mulches.
Centipedes
are closely related to millipedes and, to some, resemble worms, but they have flat bodies
and only one pair of legs on each division of their body. They also possess a
pair of poison claws or legs just behind the head. These are used to paralyze
their prey, usually insects or other small animals.
Millipede
eggs are laid in the soil. Upon hatching, the young millipedes have fewer
segments than the adult, but they add segments at each molt of the outer shell.
Molting occurs 7-10 times before maturing during the second year after hatching.
Some species may live for several years. Centipedes also molt several times,
adding legs and body segments with each molt.
Millipedes
feed on decayed plant material such as leaves and wood. Occasionally they will
feed on living plant roots, and developing fruit such as melons and cucumbers.
If millipedes are abundant in mulches and litter in landscape plantings around
homes and other buildings, they often enter buildings through cracks and
crevices. This is most common after heavy spring rains saturate the soil and
drive millipedes to higher ground and in the fall, when they seek hibernation
sites. Once inside, they usually die.
Centipedes
can be found outdoors, often under stones, boards or in piles of wood. They also
live under leaf litter and other organic matter. Its only occasionally that
these outdoor species invade homes. They are a
nuisance, but are not destructive.
Removing
mulch adjacent to the foundation or occasionally allowing it to dry out should
reduce centipede and millipede activity. Indoors, these pests may be controlled
with natural or synthetic insecticide, which should be applied professionally.
If
you’re tempted to get out the sprays and eliminate all dandelions, our advise
it to wait. Research has shown the best time to control dandelions is when they
reach the “puff-ball”, or seed stage. This time of the year they
seem to be everywhere, but if you want to eliminate them, wait. If they are
sprayed now, at full bloom, you will certainly kill the tops but if you don’t
get the roots they’ll be back.
The
puff-ball stage is when the dandelion is actively moving sugars from the leaves
to the roots. Therefore, any chemicals that are absorbed at this stage are more
likely going to get to the root of the problem.
Fertilizing
can also help in the control of dandelions. By thickening your turf grass, there
is less of a chance for dandelions to sprout and keep growing.
If you haven’t fertilized this season, now’s a
great time to apply a fertilizer. The next fertilizer application can be applied in late
August.
Another
reason to wait to control dandelions is that many of the other broadleaf weeds
aren’t up now. By waiting, you can get more weeds at once.
One
of the best things that you can do for your lawn is to mow properly. Mow
frequently and don’t remove more than one-third of the blade of grass at a
time. Keep the mower on the highest level possible. Cutting too short stresses
the grass plant, making it work too hard to develop roots to last through the
hot, dry summer.
Now
that the weather is getting warmer and wetter, what precautions can I take to
help prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes, which will help to protect myself and
my family from getting West Nile Virus?
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