MissyB

We've been getting rather a lot of these little critters in our house lately (crawling up the walls) - apparently they like to come out early autumn and are attracted to light. We have fly screens so not too sure how they're getting in...

Anyone else in Melbourne been getting these or is it just our house that's turning into a nature centre?!

Inglewhite

Yes, we've noticed heaps in our house in the last few weeks, they get everywhere, hate the bleeding things!!

Rambi

We've had a few the last week. Not the worst I've seen.

You could get your place bombed. This should stop a lot of them and those it doesn't stop will be dead halfway cross your carpet. Personally I don't bomb and just flush them down the loo. Don't crush them they stink.

They come in under the doors or any other cracks so fly screens won't stop them.

jothefw

These are the absolute pain of my life at the moment! Never realised they were Portuguese though, not that that makes them any better or worse!

They're everywhere, they like sandy ground particularly, which we're surrounded by!

I would fill a dust pan and brush, daily with them. That and small beetles! Erggggh!

And yes they do stink and friends with crawling aged babies have found they're favourites for sticking in mouths!

Amazulu

We used to have a big problem with these up here in the Perth Hills. The autumn rains that should be coming in the next few weeks seem to activate them, and we would be infested. About 3 years ago, it never rained for weeks and that seems to have killed most of them off, although we still get a few.

I hate them, my worst bug in Australia. THey don't seem to have any predators as birds and lizards don't eat them. There is a chemical called Coopex, that you can get from Bunnings, that you can spray outside and is effective in keeping them away from the house.

koalakim

I've found a couple, one dead one and one live one today. Thanks for the tip about not squishing them as I squished this one in paper towel and chucked it in the bin.

We are on sandy soil as well, hopefully we won't get too many in the house not with the new kitties around!

Wol

Horrible smell. If you get them in thousands they can crawl in line - it can be fun to get the first behind the last and watch them exhaust themselves.

I must get out more.....

MissyB

I didn't know they smelt! Yuk, lucky my little girl shys away from creepy crawlies...

tonyk38

Centipedes eat them.

Amazulu

Then we need more centipedes!

tonyk38

Indeed, but centipedes are usually venomous and can deliver a nasty bite; every bit as bad as some of Australia's more dangerous spiders. Best not touched if encountered.

newjersey

Before we start a public awareness campaign, just in case, what eats them centipedes? And for the paranoid ones out there, what eats things that eat centipedes? Before you know it is aliens vs predators all over again.

chris1386

my worst nightmare, right there, waaaaay too many legs for my liking.

Petals

Snail bate they love it we put it around the beds near the house. Its that time of the year when they are a problem. Dogs also eat it so cover it with a pot or in for some hefty vet bills.