---
title: "I’m sorry this isn’t the best photo, but these little critters move…"
description: "I’m sorry this isn’t the best photo, but these little critters move so fast it’s hard to get a picture of them. Anyway, when I watered my bird of paradise a…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/O0MttVVvOuLYofwmXsBVx6?language=es"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Chrissy"
published: "2025-04-02T00:52:07.418383Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/VAXlm57C1nk85iFDDTtJ5tB5jS7sch2z0MVFQjc9nfw/2E2XAVtAQc2HHXgI82LnsA.webp?size=large"
---

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# I’m sorry this isn’t the best photo, but these little critters move…

_Publicado por Chrissy el 2025-04-02_

I’m sorry this isn’t the best photo, but these little critters move so fast it’s hard to get a picture of them. Anyway, when I watered my bird of paradise a ton of these little bugs came up out of the soil. I don’t know what they are or if they are bad for my plant. Hoping someone here would know and be able to help with advice on what to do. Thank you!

![Adjunto 1 de 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/VAXlm57C1nk85iFDDTtJ5tB5jS7sch2z0MVFQjc9nfw/2E2XAVtAQc2HHXgI82LnsA.webp?size=large)

## 7 comentarios

### Melissa comentó el 2025-04-02

Maybe Neem oil mixed with alcohol peppermint and Castile soap

### fuey comentó el 2025-04-02

From my brief google search (i don’t live in a place where these gross millipedes are common).  
They are drawn to the humidity and moisture of the plant, but they’re not harmful to the plant itself. Rather, they eat other things that are harmful to the plant and break down compost. You can leave the plant to dry out and they’ll eventually die.  
If it is urgent, you can use insecticide granules to kill them or probably a liquid version. Granules can also be used as a preventative for the future.

#### Chrissy respondió el 2025-04-02

Thank you so much!!

### Amy comentó el 2025-04-02

Looks like a baby house centipede and not a millipede. The house centipede walk really quickly and the millipede doesn’t. They also are anatomically different. Both are not harmful and centipedes eat other house pests. If they bother you, change your plants soil with new indoor potting soil.

#### fuey respondió el 2025-04-02

Centipede.. Millipede.. both disgusting 🤢  
However if I had to choose that over spider mites or other pests, I’d take these leggy guys.

#### Chrissy respondió el 2025-04-02

Thank you! I will probably end up changing the soil.

#### Chrissy respondió el 2025-04-02

Haha! 😂 I am not a bug person. They don’t bother me if they are outside but not a fan of them in the house. And it looked like there may be a lot of them living in that soil. I suppose it’s not too bad if they are keeping pests away that would destroy my plant, but they still gross me out.

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