Dual Role of Millipedes in Agroecosystems: From Decomposers to Pests
S. Harish*
Dept. of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka (584 104), India
Sarvadaman S. Udikeri
Dept. of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka (584 104), India
P.S. Pavani
Dept. of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka (584 104), India
Lahari Shetty
BASF, Doddaballapura, Karnataka (562 163), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Diplopoda, Millipede, Moult, Pest
Abstract
Millipedes (class: Diplopoda), long considered helpful decomposers, have turned out to be opportunistic agricultural pests in certain environmental circumstances, especially in areas with high organic matters and other areas with too much moisture. Some species such as Spinotarsus, Oxidus and Spirostreptus shift their feeding habitats and become crop pests, feeding on roots, stems, seeds and tubers of crops like groundnut, sweet potato, maize and cassava. The monsoons or heavy irrigation is often linked to outbreaks which cause massive losses in yields in countries such as India, Uganda and parts of Africa. The existing control measures include handpicking, baited pitfall traps, grass heap traps, and botanical extracts; however, these methods require improvement through future studies. This review aims to determine the ecological value and potential of millipedes as pests and the fact that the balance is very weak and its sustainable control is essential. Notably, it advocates for the application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) because it upholds context-specific methods to avoid massive crop losses while preserving the valuable activities of millipedes in maintaining soil health and the ecosystem.
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Reference
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