An entomologist says the spread of Portuguese millipedes across Wellington - and beyond - is almost certain after residents on the south coast sounded the alarm about infestations of the invasive species.
Residents have described waking to find hundreds of scaly black millipedes around their homes, discovering them in shoes, bags and even their beds.
Biosecurity New Zealand said the invertebrate had been identified on the south coast and in Lower Hutt for about 20 years, but not much was known about it.
A local councillor is now calling for an urgent meeting with local authorities to discuss how to tackle the problem.
Eradication is likely impossible, but there is still a lot that can be done to control populations. But it seems no one is even thinking about it yet (and it might need the “pest” label before anyone puts money into control).