138 
A New Fern-Asparagus and Smiuax Root-borer 
Scolopcndrclla immaculata Newport 
This myriapod-like animal, a very small whitish creature, was 
observed burrowing into the young and tender rootlets of fern 
asparagus ( Asparagus plitmosus) and smilax in a Cook county 
greenhouse in 1908. A letter reporting the trouble stated that the 
asparagus had been planted for some time, but had failed to make 
any appreciable growth. On examining the roots the cause was 
discovered, the depredator proving to be Scolopcndrclla immac¬ 
ulata, an exceedingly interesting species, as it has been variously 
classed by zoologists as a true insect and as a myriapod—more 
commonly known as a thousand-legged worm. 
A separate order (Sym phyla) has been named by Mr. John A. 
Ryder for the genus to which this species has been assigned*, 
since he regards it as being neither a true insect nor a true myria¬ 
pod, but as constituting the. connecting link between the classes 
Insecta and Myriapoda, as it has the head of the Collcmbola, the 
lowest order of insects, and the body of a myriapod. 
I have been unable to find any reference to injury by Scolo¬ 
pcndrclla, its usual habit being given as beneath stones and boards 
in moist places. In the houses above mentioned the little pest 
was found burrowing into the tender rootlets, and it was so abun¬ 
dant that the new roots were tunneled and killed almost as fast 
as they appeared. Entrance is usually made along the side of the 
rootlets thru a small circular hole, and the little creature then be¬ 
gins to hollow out the root. The infested soil had been sterilized, 
but owing to the “solid”f benches, or beds, the tops of which 
were only about a foot above the floor of the house, the animals 
came up from the unsterilized earth below, and from surrounding 
places, and reinfested the sterilized soil. 
Scolopcndrclla immaculata is about .1 inch in length when full 
grown, whitish in color, with filiform antennae, and twelve pairs 
of legs. The immature form bears only three pairs of fullv de¬ 
veloped legs, and has a remarkable resemblance to the whitish 
Collcmbola which is always to be found in greenhouse soil. It 
is very active, running quickly to cover when exposed. 
Remedial Measures. —The only method known to rid the soil 
of these pests is sterilization. This process has been fully dis¬ 
cussed in connection with remedies for the variegated cutworm 
(pages 87-88). In addition it should be said that the benches must 
*Scolopendrella as the Type of a New Order of Articulates (Symphyla). 
Am. Nat., Vol. XIV, May, 1880, pp. 375-376. 
fThis term is in common use among florists, and refers to benches which 
have no artificial bottom; that is, no bottom other than the earth itself. 
