Giants of the Compost World

Earthworm one of the largest, most familiar inhabitants of the compost world about 3 to 10 inches long (the ones you usually see - some are much longer)

While eating its way through compost:

• blends it
• creates passageways for air and water
• enriches soil with microorganisms that live in its digestive tract by eating the soil and leaving behind "castings"

Isopod 1/4 to 1/2 inch long 7 pairs (14) of tiny legs moves quickly also called sow bug or wood louse

Pill Millipede about 1/4 inch long more than 14 tiny legs curls up in a ball when disturbed shorter feelers than the isopod

Isopods and pill millipedes eat dead plants and animals in compost, breaking up and enriching the soil with microorganisms much as earthworms do.

Centipede about 1 to 3 inches long fast moving long feelers flat body 30 or more legs that stick out at the sides

Centipedes play an important role as predators in the compost heap. These fierce hunters eat any other creatures they can catch. Their first pair of legs functions as poison fangs.

Although the centipedes that you find in a compost pile are too small to seriously hurt humans, do NOT touch centipedes! Their bites can hurt.

Millipede

• about 1/4 to to 3 inches long
• many short legs, arranged 4 legs per body ring
• short feelers
• round, tubular body
• moves slowly, may coil up when disturbed

Millipedes eat plants and dead compost animals. They break down large pieces of compost. The pill millipede is described separately above.