Ooh, this millipede infestation is gross!

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johno1234

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#319410 23-Apr-2025 08:27

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360661469/horror-movie-millipede-invasion-has-small-wellington-suburb-worried

You'd think that birds would have a field day and pick all these off? And also that it would attract rats and mice. Or are they toxic to eat?

Eva888

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#3366664 23-Apr-2025 09:22

Ugh! South coast here. I’ve seen one or two in the past but who knew they would create such a problem. What sort of chemical would you spray around the house to form a barrier? Intend to do this in case the problem spreads. Can understand people wanting to move from such an infestation.

tehgerbil

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#3366666 23-Apr-2025 09:29

Millipedes are quite foul tasting to most other invertebrates, mainly predated by other 'undesirables' like spiders.

This is just cause and effect in action, and will certainly happen more often unless/until more people live with spiders in their house and stopped using insecticides in and around the home wee plagues like this could easily be avoided.

I have a very healthy population of cellar spiders in and around our house and subsequently have very few issues with other bugs such as whitetails, carpet beetles and houseplant pests like whitefly and aphids.

johno1234

2797 posts

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#3366683 23-Apr-2025 10:18

I agree it drives me nuts when people harm spiders.

tweake

2391 posts

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#3366704 23-Apr-2025 10:59

"Portuguese millipedes (Ommatoiulus moreletii) are native to Europe."

it doesn't look like spiders eat them, however hedgehogs do.

they go dormant in high heat, so they can ride the summer out and come out in autumn when its warm and damp. sounds like northland would be a perfect for them.

Eva888

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#3366732 23-Apr-2025 12:32

South Coast they are eliminating rats, hedgehogs are the side catch so maybe that’s why the bugs thrive from lack of predators.

Hmm never thought about all the other insects my barrier would kill, we have plenty of spiders. Guess will have to leave it to nature.

cddt

1551 posts

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#3366779 23-Apr-2025 14:32

Do chooks eat them?

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SepticSceptic

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#3366946 23-Apr-2025 22:54

cddt:

Do chooks eat them?

I've had chickens that would bludgeon a foot long centipede , and then scarf it down, half alive, still wrigglin'

Kinda felt sorry for the centipede. Briefly ..

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cddt

1551 posts

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#3366961 24-Apr-2025 07:14

Sounds like a solution then.

I hear Titirangi has some excess poultry? Maybe we could ship them to Wellington.

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