Do Centipedes Harm Pansies?

Benefits

• Centipedes are carnivores. They eat insects such as slugs, spiders and earthworms. Slugs are especially fond of pansies; thus, centipedes are an asset in protecting your flowers from these invaders.

Considerations

• The centipede is not a danger to pansies. However, the pansy is susceptible to other creatures, in addition to the slug. Clemson Cooperative Extension reports that two major pansy predators are the aphid and the spider mite.

Effects

• Although centipedes are beneficial to pansies and other garden flowers and plants, they can become so prolific that they enter the home. If this happens, you may need to take control measures.

Warning

• Centipedes eat many smaller invertebrates --- especially spiders. This may cause them to move from the beneficial category for pansies and other flowers to the "not-so-beneficial" category. Spiders are important to gardens in that they, too, feed on plant-eating insects. Without them, the insects they eat may flourish and destroy plants.