The Importance of Pesticide Efficacy Testing for Controlling Millipede Pests
Have you ever encountered millipedes crawling in agricultural areas or even inside your home? Although they may appear harmless, some millipede species can become pests that damage crops and disrupt human activities. These pests can be controlled using pesticides, but not all active ingredients are equally effective. Therefore, it is important to identify the right type of pesticide and understand how efficacy testing is conducted to ensure optimal results.
Milipedes as A Pest
Millipedes are arthropods that typically live in soil and leaf litter, but some species can become pests in agricultural or residential environments. In large numbers, they can cause economic losses and disturb human comfort. In agriculture, millipedes can damage crops by feeding on plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots, and even fruits. Their attacks often occur during the early growth stages of plants, for example, in corn and oil palm seedlings, where they can cause plant mortality of up to 40%.
Some millipede species, such as Oxidus gracilis, are known to attack greenhouse crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and chrysanthemums. As a result, the plants may suffer from stunted growth, wilting, and significantly reduced yields. Millipedes can also cause indirect damage to plants by creating entry points for secondary pathogens such as fungi and bacteria.
Additionally, their activity in the soil can significantly increase nitrogen and phosphorus levels, leading to nutrient imbalances that are harmful to plant health. In urban areas, millipedes are often considered nuisance pests because they may invade homes in large numbers, especially after heavy rains. Although they are not dangerous, their presence can be disturbing and accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
Some millipede species have the ability to secrete strong-smelling chemical compounds as a defense mechanism. Compounds like hydrogen cyanide released by certain species are generally harmless to humans but can cause skin irritation or mild burn-like effects. Millipede control can be achieved by improving environmental conditions and, when necessary, using pesticides. However, the pesticides used must first undergo efficacy testing to ensure their effectiveness and safety for both the environment and the crops.
Millipede Control using Pesticides and Their Efficacy Testing
Several active ingredients in pesticides are known to be effective in controlling millipede pests, particularly those from the pyrethroid group, such as deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin.In laboratory tests, these substances caused mortality and behavioral changes in millipedes, such as the release of body fluids, which indicates internal organ damage. In addition to pyrethroids, active ingredients like carbendazim have also shown the ability to reduce millipede populations in the field.
Although carbendazim is primarily known as a fungicide, its effects on soil microorganisms can indirectly influence millipede populations. Diflubenzuron is another active ingredient that works by inhibiting the molting process in juvenile millipedes. This prevents them from developing normally and eventually leads to death before reaching adulthood.
While these substances have proven effective, their use must be carried out with caution to avoid environmental harm. Therefore, every pesticide applied should undergo efficacy testing to ensure its effectiveness and safety for crops and other organisms. Pesticide efficacy testing against millipedes can be conducted using two main methods: direct application and residual application.
These methods are designed to assess how effective a pesticide is at killing or controlling millipedes under certain conditions. In the direct application method, millipedes are sprayed or treated directly with the pesticide. They are then transferred to a clean container within 15 minutes to avoid overexposure. In contrast, the residual application method involves spraying a surface—such as soil, boards, or leaf litter—with the pesticide first.
Then, millipedes are allowed to crawl on the treated surface for several hours, typically up to 4 hours, to simulate natural field conditions.Mortality assessment is conducted periodically for up to 96 hours after treatment. The collected data include the number of individuals that are alive, dead, and moribund (weak and inactive). To ensure accurate results, a balanced experimental design with sufficient replication is necessary.
It is recommended to use a minimum of five replications with 15 individuals, seven replications with 10 individuals, or 35 replications with one individual per treatment.The use of a control group that is not treated with pesticides is also essential for comparison. Only millipedes that are completely unresponsive to touch are counted as dead in this test.
Read more:
How to control millipedes
At IML Research, every pesticide efficacy test is conducted using standardized scientific methods and provides reliable results. Our team of experts ensures that each testing stage is meticulously conducted to provide accurate and relevant data for field conditions. If you are a pesticide manufacturer, distributor, or agricultural institution looking to ensure product effectiveness before distribution, efficacy testing at IML Research helps you obtain recognized and trusted scientific data. Ensure your pesticide is truly effective before use in the field. Test your efficacy with IML Research today.
Author: Dherika
Editor: Sabilla Reza
References:
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021, January 19). Guidance on efficacy testing for pesticides targeting certain invertebrate pests. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/guidance-efficacy-testing-pesticides-targeting-certain-invertebrate-pests_.html (Accessed: May 30th, 2025).
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, May 16). Efficacy testing for pesticides targeting certain invertebrate pests. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/efficacy-testing-pesticides-targeting-certain-invertebrate-pests (Accessed: May 30th, 2025).
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