What is the name of these creatures? Are they harmful to plants? Please help.
https://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee61/oldee9327/mini-IMG_1686.jpg?t=1292383841
They look like little centipedes to me. I'm not familiar with the species that live in your area, but you could do some research online. Not much is known about the diet of centipedes, but they are considered carnivores, I.e. meat eaters. Most are believed to be active hunters and some may also be scavengers, feeding on dead animals and insects. Here's picture of one that looks very similar to those in your pic. It is described as about 1" long:
[img]https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3500782673_a2300cf446.jpg[/img]
[img]https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3500782673_a2300cf446.jpg[/img]
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applestar
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Some of them end up in my container soil mix that I make from my compost. Yeah, I let them stay. I need something to help control other, more harmful bugs that end up in my soil mix. My only concern is that they may also eat earthworm babies and cocoons, but good outweighs the bad.
I know a lot of people are creeped out by having bugs in their house, but really, these soil denizens don't want to be anywhere else but in their nice comfortable flowerpots.
I have house centipedes in the house that make an appearance once in a while. Now THOSE are creepy with their long legs and super fast but ghostly (they move so fast the legs blur) movements. I admit I used to flatten them with flipflops and slippers until I learned that they're predatorial and just as beneficial as spiders if you will not spray chemicals in your house. Now I just reassure my kids and shoo them (the centipedes
) under cupboards and behind furniture. 
If they're big enough to be spotted -- and slow enough to be caught -- by the kitties, then I figure they're fair game. 
I know a lot of people are creeped out by having bugs in their house, but really, these soil denizens don't want to be anywhere else but in their nice comfortable flowerpots.
I have house centipedes in the house that make an appearance once in a while. Now THOSE are creepy with their long legs and super fast but ghostly (they move so fast the legs blur) movements. I admit I used to flatten them with flipflops and slippers until I learned that they're predatorial and just as beneficial as spiders if you will not spray chemicals in your house. Now I just reassure my kids and shoo them (the centipedes
) under cupboards and behind furniture. If they're big enough to be spotted -- and slow enough to be caught -- by the kitties, then I figure they're fair game. Thank you for giving a reply. I just found out that they are called millipedes not centipedes. Millipedes damage tender seedlings.Kisal wrote:They look like little centipedes to me. I'm not familiar with the species that live in your area, but you could do some research online.....
https://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05552.html