cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/21928125
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.