Pesky critters
Nov 8th 2012, 11:53 pm
#1
Waiting to be a grown-up
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 4,695
Pesky critters
These things are really annoying me
I must get rid of at least half a dozen a day.
I don't think they're harmful
but they are too easy to squish and make a mess of the carpet
any ideas how to stop them coming in?
I must get rid of at least half a dozen a day.
I don't think they're harmful
but they are too easy to squish and make a mess of the carpetany ideas how to stop them coming in?
Nov 9th 2012, 3:48 am
#2
Almost more Oz than Pom
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Brisbane northern suburbs
Posts: 1,154
Re: Pesky critters
You have chosen to live in Adelaide - millipedes are a fact of life. Learn to live with them.
Nov 9th 2012, 10:28 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Mandurah, WA
Posts: 886
Re: Pesky critters
Somehow I knew before even reading the message what this was going to be about! It's those pesky Portugese Millipedes....
They are just as much a nuisance in WA too. Come out after heavy bouts of rain. Live in damp areas, like compost. I swept up another lot from the patio today
and we have a few indoors, slowly making their way to....nowhere. It seems that they are attracted by light. Once indoors of course they can't find any food or water, and just dry out and die. They're harmless but a nuisance. Don't swash them when picking up, they ooze some yucky substance which stains and smells. Birds won't eat them hence the large numbers everywhere and there are no natural predators. Plenty of info if you do a Google search.
You can get around your house sprayed, but it washes away in the rain. I have sprayed inside the patio area, window sills and garage to limit the numbers coming inside but have to reapply each time it rains. I've been using an insect surface spray with Propoxur as the main ingredient but am on my last can and can't find any more in the shops. I can't remember where, but a website said that was the right thing to use to kill them. Otherwise another suggestion was an outdoor trap - bury a large washed yogurt tub at ground level with a cheap outdoor solar light on a spike next to it. The things are attracted by the light, fall in the yogurt tub and can't get out.
They are just as much a nuisance in WA too. Come out after heavy bouts of rain. Live in damp areas, like compost. I swept up another lot from the patio today
and we have a few indoors, slowly making their way to....nowhere. It seems that they are attracted by light. Once indoors of course they can't find any food or water, and just dry out and die. They're harmless but a nuisance. Don't swash them when picking up, they ooze some yucky substance which stains and smells. Birds won't eat them hence the large numbers everywhere and there are no natural predators. Plenty of info if you do a Google search.You can get around your house sprayed, but it washes away in the rain. I have sprayed inside the patio area, window sills and garage to limit the numbers coming inside but have to reapply each time it rains. I've been using an insect surface spray with Propoxur as the main ingredient but am on my last can and can't find any more in the shops. I can't remember where, but a website said that was the right thing to use to kill them. Otherwise another suggestion was an outdoor trap - bury a large washed yogurt tub at ground level with a cheap outdoor solar light on a spike next to it. The things are attracted by the light, fall in the yogurt tub and can't get out.
Nov 9th 2012, 10:32 am
#4
Waiting to be a grown-up
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 4,695
Re: Pesky critters
Somehow I knew before even reading the message what this was going to be about! It's those pesky Portugese Millipedes....
They are just as much a nuisance in WA too. Come out after heavy bouts of rain. Live in damp areas, like compost. I swept up another lot from the patio today and we have a few indoors, slowly making their way to....nowhere. It seems that they are attracted by light. Once indoors of course they can't find any food or water, and just dry out and die. They're harmless but a nuisance. Don't swash them when picking up, they ooze some yucky substance which stains and smells. Birds won't eat them hence the large numbers everywhere and there are no natural predators. Plenty of info if you do a Google search.
You can get around your house sprayed, but it washes away in the rain. I have sprayed inside the patio area, window sills and garage to limit the numbers coming inside but have to reapply each time it rains. I've been using an insect surface spray with Propoxur as the main ingredient but am on my last can and can't find any more in the shops. I can't remember where, but a website said that was the right thing to use to kill them. Otherwise another suggestion was an outdoor trap - bury a large washed yogurt tub at ground level with a cheap outdoor solar light on a spike next to it. The things are attracted by the light, fall in the yogurt tub and can't get out.
They are just as much a nuisance in WA too. Come out after heavy bouts of rain. Live in damp areas, like compost. I swept up another lot from the patio today
and we have a few indoors, slowly making their way to....nowhere. It seems that they are attracted by light. Once indoors of course they can't find any food or water, and just dry out and die. They're harmless but a nuisance. Don't swash them when picking up, they ooze some yucky substance which stains and smells. Birds won't eat them hence the large numbers everywhere and there are no natural predators. Plenty of info if you do a Google search.You can get around your house sprayed, but it washes away in the rain. I have sprayed inside the patio area, window sills and garage to limit the numbers coming inside but have to reapply each time it rains. I've been using an insect surface spray with Propoxur as the main ingredient but am on my last can and can't find any more in the shops. I can't remember where, but a website said that was the right thing to use to kill them. Otherwise another suggestion was an outdoor trap - bury a large washed yogurt tub at ground level with a cheap outdoor solar light on a spike next to it. The things are attracted by the light, fall in the yogurt tub and can't get out.
Nov 9th 2012, 10:50 am
#5
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: Pesky critters
Ants in the car....milipedes in the house. What next??? 
Those milipedes apparantly know where the S.A. / Vic. border is. They are very prevalent in Naracoorte but not much further east.
But they are harmless luckily.
Look at Raven doorstrips for sealing main doors at the bottom. Keeps the huntsmen out as well. Make sure all your flyscreens fit properly. Difficult in a rental I know.
Mortein surface spray is quite good.
Those milipedes apparantly know where the S.A. / Vic. border is. They are very prevalent in Naracoorte but not much further east.
But they are harmless luckily.
Look at Raven doorstrips for sealing main doors at the bottom. Keeps the huntsmen out as well. Make sure all your flyscreens fit properly. Difficult in a rental I know.
Mortein surface spray is quite good.
Nov 10th 2012, 12:15 am
#6
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,446
Re: Pesky critters
Plastic cup. Plastic spoon.
Flick said pesky critter into cup with spoon and relocate outside.
No squish.
Flick said pesky critter into cup with spoon and relocate outside.
No squish.
Nov 10th 2012, 3:02 am
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: VIC, Australia
Posts: 397
Re: Pesky critters
They seem to form plagues during periods of above average rainfall and humidity. They are very prevalent in central Victoria and large parts of the country from what I've heard.
They curl up into a ball when touched or threatened in any way and can then be easily picked up and removed or even just flicked out the door. It's hard though when you have a procession of them in your house.
The last few years have been one of the wettest such periods on record over most of Eastern Australia so they came out in force. Most of the time they are in much smaller numbers.
They curl up into a ball when touched or threatened in any way and can then be easily picked up and removed or even just flicked out the door. It's hard though when you have a procession of them in your house.
The last few years have been one of the wettest such periods on record over most of Eastern Australia so they came out in force. Most of the time they are in much smaller numbers.
