White worms in plants

[BECHARD4]

I have a 24X24X48 reptibreeze enclosure with a ficus plant inside. I noticed that there are little white worms in the soil. I do have a layer of stones on top of the soil and the soil is organic. There is a dripper on it twice a day and drainage under the pot. Are these harmful to the chameleon and what should I do about the worms?

 

[carol5208]

I guess it depends on what they are. Could they be maggots from flies??? It is hard to say if they are harmful when we do not know what they are. Can you post some pictures?

 

[BECHARD4]

Picture of worms



Here is a picture of the worms in the soil.

 

[carol5208]

Those are either a centipede or millipede. See all the legs? They are not good for your chameleon to eat. The wild anoles in my yard spit them out. I had some in my cage and I did an experiment. I cleaned out the plant in my backyard and threw the worms on the ground and the anoles came running for the food. They grabbed them and spit them out. They must know they are bad or do not taste good. I think someone said they are toxic. I did a thread awhile back on this. I will see if I can find it. You are going to need to take your plant outside and totally clean out the soil and repot the plant. They will multiply like crazy if you don't

 

[Deevo]

those look like millipedes to me. Likely brought in with the soil. I don't think there really that harmful at that stage however I'm not that familiar with their life cycle and what they could morph into like some kind of "biting" beetle.

Probably just best to replant or swap with another tree.

 

[carol5208]

those look like millipedes to me. Likely brought in with the soil. I don't think there really that harmful at that stage however I'm not that familiar with their life cycle and what they could morph into like some kind of "biting" beetle.

Probably just best to replant or swap with another tree.

Yes, ok millipedes! I knew it was one or the other. They smell and like I said the Wild Anoles wanted nothing to do with them so they must know something!!!

 

[carol5208]

This was posted from another member awhile back:.
most millipedes protect themselves with a cyanide compound. To be safe you should not feed millipedes to any animal.

From Wikipedia: "Many species also emit poisonous liquid secretions or hydrogen cyanide gas through microscopic pores along the sides of their bodies as a secondary defense.[7][8][9] Some of these substances are caustic and can burn the exoskeleton of ants and other insect predators, and the skin and eyes of larger predators."

They do harm animals when eaten. They can harm plants. I've seen scorpions eat them, but not many other things seems to like them.

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Last edited by DGray; 03-02-2010 at 02:13 AM. Reason: addition

 

[BECHARD4]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies.

I will be repoting the plants today.

So this morning I checked the other chameleons plants and one other one has worms in it also.

I am using organic soil. Is this still the best option or should I be using something else? Also it is the both ficus plants that have the worms in the bottom.

 

[ridgebax1]

Is it a prepackaged soil, or soil from outside. I use miracle gro organic soil and have not had problems with millipedes. I do still have those stupid gnats though and was wondering if there is a way to get rid of them without tearing down the whole stupid cage I just redid in July!