Symphylans are small (up to ¼ inch), pure white, soft-bodied animals with 12 pairs of legs. They are often called garden centipedes because of their similarity to centipedes (see Centipedes). The tiny animals are very active in damp soil, outside in warm climates or in greenhouses everywhere. They feed on many vegetables, fruits, and flowers, attacking germinating seeds, plant root systems, and aboveground parts in contact with the soil. Small plants may die or be severely stunted. Larger, more mature plants can usually withstand a symphylan infestation. When the weather warms in the spring, symphylans migrate up to the top 6 inches of soil where they usually remain feeding throughout the summer. In late fall, they move deeper in the soil to more protected sites. Symphylans are often found in large numbers in localized areas, marked by a group of stunted plants. Sifting through a shovelful of soil from the site will confirm their presence.