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Worms in my houseplants soil. Recently purchased plants. #861123
Asked March 11, 2024, 1:04 PM EDT
Anoka County Minnesota
Expert Response
Dear Renae,
It is difficult to tell exactly from the photo, but does the worm have many "legs"? When touching the worm, does it curl up in a small circle? If "yes" to these questions, I think your worm is actually a millipede. Here is a UMN Extension article with more photos and information about millipedes: https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/garden/relatives/medium/millipedes.html
If there are many millipedes, I would recommend removing them to protect your plants' health. They may eat the roots of potted plants. You may wish to remove them to your compost bin or garden – they are very helpful at decomposing organic plant matter.
Good luck!