bug identified:Lithobius forficatus

Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
Dear Gentlefolks,
A while back I found a creepy crawler in my soil mix. As I encourage maximum diversity in my soil (and as a matter of fact everywhere else as well) I was happy to find this ugly thing...
Until I identified it as being probably a Lithobius forficatus. The name is as nasty as the figure.
Seems like it is munching on little arthropods and the occasional worm. It is a good and a bad thing as it pretty much kills anything that lives both beneficial and pests. Every time I come upon a worm in my soil, it is very sluggish and seems tired... well, I guess a tiny chunk of it gets bitten of whenever one of those Lithobius passes by...
Has anyone had to deal with this insect? I rather assess carefully the situation before acting as the plants seems healthy in my ROLS setup.
Thanks for your feedback.

Buggingly yours,
M
 

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ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Mazer said:
Dear Gentlefolks,
A while back I found a creepy crawler in my soil mix. As I encourage maximum diversity in my soil (and as a matter of fact everywhere else as well) I was happy to find this ugly thing...
Until I identified it as being probably a Lithobius forficatus. The name is as nasty as the figure.
Seems like it is munching on little arthropods and the occasional worm. It is a good and a bad thing as it pretty much kills anything that lives both beneficial and pests. Every time I come upon a worm in my soil, it is very sluggish and seems tired... well, I guess a tiny chunk of it gets bitten of whenever one of those Lithobius passes by...
Has anyone had to deal with this insect? I rather assess carefully the situation before acting as the plants seems healthy in my ROLS setup.
Thanks for your feedback.

Buggingly yours,
M
Click to expand...
I kill centipedes on sight.
 
Diabolical666

Diabolical666

Well-Known Member
How does diatomaceous earth affect rols..good or bad? Would D.E. kill this? Or would it be too harmful to rols? Just throwing out some wake n bake thoughts...
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
Diabolical666 said:
How does diatomaceous earth affect rols..good or bad? Would D.E. kill this? Or would it be too harmful to rols? Just throwing out some wake n bake thoughts...
Click to expand...
Dear Diabolical666,
I am not too sure about D.E. So I will wait a bit before sprinkling it. however, from now on I will cut the creepers in two whenever I see them.

ChopChopingly yours,
M
 
hillbill

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Organic recycling for years and use DE without reservation. It's also a source of silicon for your plants. I rub it on my feet under my socks during chigger madness. I once brought in some soil from the backyard (forest) a few winters ago and had hundreds of centipedes in the house the next morning. Followed that up with lizards and eggs in my compost I brought in. Hillbill brings nothing in from outdoors these days. Centipedes do bite and are mildly poisonous.
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
hillbill said:
Organic recycling for years and use DE without reservation. It's also a source of silicon for your plants. I rub it on my feet under my socks during chigger madness. I once brought in some soil from the backyard (forest) a few winters ago and had hundreds of centipedes in the house the next morning. Followed that up with lizards and eggs in my compost I brought in. Hillbill brings nothing in from outdoors these days. Centipedes do bite and are mildly poisonous.
Click to expand...
Dear Hillbill,
Following your recommendation, I just purchased 10lbs of DE. I believe it is OK with worms? I use a lot of EWC and my soil has a fair number of them aerating and mixing my soil. I would hate to hurt my little gardeners.

How do you suggest I use the DE? sprinkle on top? mix to the surface? what quantities?

Diatomaciously yours,
M
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
Dear Gentlefolks,
Just a little update on my creepy crawler issue. As suggested, I ordered DE (10lbs...) sprinkled the soil with it. At first I was dubious as I kept one of the creatures in a party cup with DE and some soil. It stayed alive more than 48hrs before being frozen to death. So I was thinking the Lithobius was immune to DE.
After a couple of weeks, I realized the fungus gnats were back around the pots. I have not had a sighting in weeks. My understanding was that the big guys were eating the gnats. so I started the dig in the soil to spot some of the hunters. Almost none left...
So I got rid of a somewhat harmless insect (for the plants) which allowed an explosion in the gnats demographics.

Bottom line: Be careful what you wish for...

LesserEvily yours,
M
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
hillbill said:
Just Google the uses for DE and in a baked form NAPA 8822!
Click to expand...
Dear hillbill,
Thanks for your recommendation. I got rid of the segmented insect.
Trust me I did all sorts of google on DE before bringing it anywhere near the Girls. Am I missing something?

hundredPercently yours,
M
 
hillbill

hillbill

Well-Known Member
NAPA Auo Parts has an oil dry product that is a superheated granular DE which is great in a soil mix and acts like a cross between perlite and vermiculite in your growing mix. Great for grit on ice.
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
hillbill said:
NAPA Auo Parts has an oil dry product that is a superheated granular DE which is great in a soil mix and acts like a cross between perlite and vermiculite in your growing mix. Great for grit on ice.
Click to expand...
Dear Hillbill,
This looks great! I will try to get a hold of a bag. Very well priced. I assume you have been using it. Does it break down or does it have a stable structure?

Napa8822ingly yours,
M
 
Mazer

Mazer

Well-Known Member
having said this, I just purchased 10lbs of DE powder... should last long enough for my grand children (to be born) to grow a few trees.
10lbsFor100yearsingly yours,
M
 
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