Symphylans: Soil Pest Management Options

G arden symphylans (Scutigerella immaculata Newport) are small, white, “centipede-like” soil arthropods, common in many agricultural production systems in Oregon, Washington, and California (Berry and Robinson, 1974; Michelbacher, 1935). They feed on roots... More

G arden symphylans (Scutigerella immaculata Newport) are small, white, “centipede-like” soil arthropods, common in many agricultural production systems in Oregon, Washington, and California (Berry and Robinson, 1974; Michelbacher, 1935). They feed on roots and other subterranean plant parts, causing significant crop losses in some cases. Control can be extremely difficult due to symphylans’ vertical movement in the soil, the comlexity of sampling, and the lack of simple, effective control methods (Umble and Fisher, 2003a). With the recent spread of organic agriculture and better soil management techniques, crop damage associated with symphylans has become more commonplace. It is ironic that these pests are such a problem on farms that practice good soil management — maintaining soil with good tilth, high organic matter, and low compaction. Damage Diagnosing a garden symphylan problem is sometimes difficult, since damage may be exhibited in a number of forms and garden symphylans a Less