Millipede with mites.

Tindomul1of9 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2006, 10:29 PM

My work place keeps a millipede that has become infested with mites. I don't know what type of millipede it is, all I know is that its about 6 inches long, 1 inch thick, and black. It has tons of little black mites crawling all over it. Has this happened to anyone else??

Thanks.

Pavel · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 01:31 PM

You might try the shake & bake method for the mites ... I know it can be used on hissing roaches. Put the millipede in a baggy w/ a small amount of flour [one or two tablespoons]. Shake the bag like you werre going to coat a pork shop or piece of chicken. Remove the millipede, gently rinse/spray it off, & return it to a clean enclosure. If you are feeling really determined about killing off the mites in the baggy, nuke the baggy of flour for about 45 sec in a microwave then dump the contents outside.

Tindomul1of9 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 05:14 PM

Wow, thanks Pavel!!!! I never even heard of this method before!

Pavel · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 06:24 PM

Might be worthwhile to try Marty's dry ice approach to killing off the mites still living in the millipede's home while the milli convalesces in a clean/sterile temporary home

Tindomul1of9 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 10:34 PM

I think that would kill the Millipede too.

Pavel · #6 (**permalink**) 09-22-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

I think that would kill the Millipede too.

That's why I was suggesting that the pede convalence in a temporary home while you dry-iced the mites living in the pede's regular home

Elfmaze · #7 (**permalink**) 12-17-2006, 02:58 AM

hate to break up the party of death, but millipeeds are suposed to have mites. the mites clean the millipeed. even if you pick the thing up the mites will not leave the critter. we have four of em and the've all had mites since we've got em. never had a problem with the mites going to any of the snakes or other spiders.

Tindomul1of9 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2006, 09:36 PM

WoW, I didn't know that.
Is it a sure thing that they will be beneficial mites, or could it have bad mites?

Elfmaze · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2006, 11:00 PM

I'm not real shure how to tell if they are bad mites or not. but generally seeing ten- twenty of them crawling around the legs and over the head is normal. If the mites REALLY start getting out of control you can kill them with a cotton swab with alcohol on it. But the only way they can harm the thing is by laying too many eggs in the breathing passages and smothering it. But our millis have pin head sized brown mites.

NICKO · #10 (**permalink**) 04-19-2007, 08:16 AM

Elfmaze is right the mites benifit the mills(they have them in the wild). I have had some for a while and the mites haven't done any damage to the mills. I also wouldnt suggest trying the alcohole on cotton wool thing as they give off acid when they feel threatend and believe me that stuff sinks and stains very bad,(when i got my first mill due to my lack of knowledge at the time i tried rubbing with warm water and saw this defence mechanism first hand).

(if the mites are red that is bad as they are a diff type but brown ones seem fine)