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.
The local (and presumably central, based on comment from the local councillor) govt response is so disappointing. They should be reacting with urgency to try to figure out impacts on the ecosystem and control measures.
at 20 years in the area - good luck with that
I do wonder why they seem to be turning up more now and if they are spreading
I wonder if recent weather conditions have been more favourable, maybe an impact of climate change?
Would be a good project for someone but that also requires $$ which tertiary education sector hasn’t been getting a ton of.
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).
@BlueEther @shellieg , could be a mast year - be a good start to know what causes it.
get one of Phil Lester’s students to look into them as a phd project
