Millipedes and Slaters Fact Sheet

Millipedes and slaters in no-till systems

The black Portuguese millipede is emerging as a sporadic but damaging pest of broadacre agriculture,
particularly canola, while high populations of slaters have damaged some crops in recent years.

Key points

• Black Portuguese millipede damage to emerging canola plants has increased in recent seasons.
• Rises in populations have been linked to increased uptake of no-till and stubble retention.
• ––Reducing paddock stubble loads over summer will generally reduce millipede numbers.
• ––Slaters can cause extensive crop damage to emerging seedlings.
• The Australiodillo bifrons slater species has the ability to swarm over a soil surface.
• Finding black Portuguese millipedes and slaters in a crop does not necessarily mean damage will occur.
• –Management options are limited after crop emergence so prevention is a key part of control.

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Region South, North

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