Also known as the garden symphilid, the many-legged symphylan [color] is often confused by gardeners with the centipede and millipede. Each is in a different class and has distinguishing habits. The centipede is a beneficial predator, feeding nocturnally on soil insects and millipedes.

Symphylans have bodies broken up into 14 segments, and move about on 12 pairs of legs. Because of their superficial resemblance to centipedes, they are sometimes called garden centipedes. They feed on young plant roots and are capable of downing their own weight’s worth in a day. Affected plants tend to wilt in strong sunlight and are prone to fungal and bacterial root rots. Lettuce leaves may be eaten full of holes if they rest on infested ground. On tomatoes, stunted plants show bluish stems, yellowed lower foliage, and dark green upper foliage.

To check garden soil for symphylans, dunk the root ball of a plant in a bucket filled with water. The pests should rise to the top. Or you can dig a shovelful of soil and sift through it. If you find an average of ten or more symphylans in each of a sample of several shovelfuls, then your garden is in need of help.

On a large scale, fields can be flooded for a time to wipe out the symphylan population. A safe, nonchemical control for the gardener has not been devised, but you might try drenching the soil with garlic or tobacco teas. It’s best to move the compost pile some distance from the garden if symphylans have been troublesome. You can reduce their numbers by thoroughly mincing the soil with a power tiller.