Millipede Madness

[Trekhawk]

Ok so nobody told me that living in the Perth Hills I would be having a lot of lovely visits from the resident Millipede population.

Now I have nothing against Millipedes but I would rather they stayed outside. Last night when putting my three sons to bed we walked past the back door and a dozen or so were on the floor. I got rid of those but opened the back door to investigate and holly crap they were everywhere. I don't think I have ever seen so many bugs in one place.

After talking to some locals they laughed and said welcome to the hills. Apparently after the first rain they are pretty bad and yes it rained hard yesterday but even at drier times are still around in large numbers.

I don't want to spray any nasty poison around and from what the internet tells me that does not work well anyway. So girls if you have any other tips for me I would really appreciate it.

Im going to the hardware store today to get some better seals for around the doors so hopefully that will help keep them out.

[jobob]

Oh, yech! You poor thing!

Don't post pictures, m'kay???

[maillotpois]

Oh no - do post pictures!!!

I posted my turkeys! And we get some millipedes here. I'd like to compare.

[yellow]

Aw, c'mon TH, you could keep them as pets! They like watermelon! Just think, you could all sit around together and spit seeds!

But perhaps you should take the test to determine if a millipede is the right companion animal for you.

[aka_kim]

Oh. My. God. Four to 11 inches!? Live 3 years!? 200+ legs!? That's what you have inside??

Welcome home, mate.

[crazycanuck]

Who says the wildlife in Australia isn't exciting

Do you have any bandicoots in your area? I've always searched for them when visiting friends in Roleystone..

I don't like buggies..

[Trekhawk]

Aw, c'mon TH, you could keep them as pets! They like watermelon! Just think, you could all sit around together and spit seeds!

But perhaps you should take the test to determine if a millipede is the right companion animal for you.

Ok yellow now I feel a little ill. That is just wrong and very creepy.

Kim - the Millipedes at our place are nowhere near as big as that. If I had something as big as that coming inside I would be moving tomorrow.

CC - I am told they are around but I am yet to see one.

I went for a ride today and they were all over the road. Pretty much the entire ride had lovely squishy sound effects. My poor bike will never be the same. Just to add another dimension to this gross story they stink when you squish them.

[bouncybouncy]

just....ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!

[Starfish]

A couple of weeks ago on the Discovery channel, there was a show about critters in Australia. Something sensational like the top 10 poisonous or dangerous or something. Various spiders, snakes, ocean things, etc.

I went to bed wondering how anyone in the whole of Australia ever goes to sleep at night?

I kinda mean it. I mean, some spider that has teeth/prongs/whatever that stick into your leg so hard you have to pull the thing off your leg before you rush to the hospital? In the house?

I would be a friggin' basket case. You folks are tough.

Are the millipedes poisonous?

[Geonz]

Hopefully this is just a seasonal thing. I don't like those particular critters either. Blleeccch.

[bikerz]

This whole thread just reads to me like the opening scenes in a new mega-monster horror movie "Attack of the Millipedes!"

Just don't go down into your cellar at night to investigate some strange sound (the pitter-patter of millions of tiny feet?) with a flickering flashlight.

(The only thing worse - to me - than large, hairy insects are way too many small multi-legged ones. Ugh. I'm with Jobob - no pictures!)

[SadieKate]

potato bugs!! These give me the creeps.

[firenze11]

All we get is ladybugs and cluster flies twice a year here. I don't think I could handle millipedes! Thinking about them makes me want to do a creepy bug wiggle.

I dunno about how to keep them out. We heard about menthol for ladybugs but that only worked a little bit - apparently they hate the smell. Could be a last ditch effort if you don't find anything else. Do millipedes have a sense of smell???

[jobob]

Okey dokey, I'm creeped out now.

[SadieKate]

Are the millipedes poisonous?

Only centipedes, and then only mildly.

Editing: actually millipedes are poisonous if you eat them. I think I'll pass.

You should read Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. He had pretty much the same reaction to Australia's flora and fauna as you do (and I would).

Put this on your itinerary for your next trip down under: Australian Venom Zoo.