It is commonly reputed to be poisonous, but authentic cases of its bite are at least rare.

As a rule the Myriapoda are beneficial to the agriculturist.

The carnivorous forms destroy immense numbers of injurious insects, while most of the vegetable feeders live on decaying wood and plants, thus converting them into the very best form of plant food.

All, however, are not so innocuous, for some forms, especially the galley Avorms, are known to eat the roots of plants or even to attack the fruit of the straw- berry, cucumber, etc.

These forms are often erroneously included under the term wire-worms by gardeners and farmers.