MILLEPEDES. 149 



The young Millepedes have, when first hatched, not more 

 than three pah-s of legs {ride Murray's ' Aptera,' p. 15) ; but 

 with their successive moults they gain additional segments, 

 and, as noted on p. 148, great addition to the numbers of their 

 legs. They live for two years before arriving at full growth 

 and power of reproduction. 



The Polydesmns complanains, or "Flattened Millepede," 

 figured at "6 " and " 7 " (p. 148), is distinguished from the Snake 

 Millepedes by being flattened on the back, and the segments 

 a little dilated at the sides. This is of a lilac colour above, 

 whitish below and the back granulated ; it is from about a 

 quarter to over half an inch long, and has 60 legs. This kind 

 is stated to be similar in its habits to the " Snake Millepedes," 

 or Jididce. 



The attacks of the Millepedes appear either to have much 

 increased or been much more observed of late years, and 

 enquiries have been frequently sent me regarding injuries to 

 field or garden root crops, and also of injury to Wheat. The 

 Spotted Millepede, J. guttatus, often found in Strawberry fruit, 

 is also excessively fond of Mangolds, therefore I have placed 

 the attacks under the above heading. Besides preying on 

 plants, " The Snake Millepedes are general feeders, consuming 

 both decaying and living animal and vegetable substances. 

 They prey upon slugs, small snails, insects and their larvae 

 and pupae, earth-worms," &c. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — Very little has been com- 

 municated in the way of direct observation of means of pre- 

 vention or remedy of Millepede infestation, but, looking at 

 such information as is attainable, the following appear the 

 chief points to be attended to : — 



To avoid carrying Millepedes or their eggs on to the land 

 whether of farm or garden in soil from infested manure or 

 refuse-heaps. Millepedes are found under rubbish or amongst 

 dead leaves, or in manure-heaps where much garden refuse is 

 thrown ; and where such manure is wheeled or carted to the 

 farm or garden, infestation will be carried with it. 



Where infestation is known to have been present in land, or 

 is suspected to be present, it is desirable to disturb the surface 

 well in the early part of the year, so as to throw out the eggs, 

 and Millepedes of various ages; or trench in gardens, or plough 

 with skim-coulter attached in the field, so as to bury down the 

 whole infestation at once ; or dress heavily with salt, nitrate 

 of soda, or gas-lime. 



In experiments tried by myself, and also by the bailiff to 

 Mr. Pain, of Audsley's Wood, Basingstoke, Hants, in 1885, 

 we found that a strous solution of common salt or of nitrate 



