The imported black Portuguese millipede is a nuisance pest in southern Australia.
An unwanted import
Many people in southern Australia are familiar with the black Portuguese millipede Ommatoiulus moreleti.
A native of Portugal, it was accidentally introduced to Australia, first appearing in South Australia at Port Lincoln in 1953.
It has now spread to:
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other parts of South Australia
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Victoria
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Tasmania
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the Australian Capital Territory
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southern New South Wales
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Western Australia around Perth.
This millipede rapidly gained a reputation for being a nuisance pest.
It is not harmful to humans but can occur in plague numbers, invading houses, contaminating food and infesting carpet and bedding.
Plagues may also destroy seedlings and fruit and vegetable crops.
The worst outbreaks have been in Adelaide and parts of Victoria. Grassland, woodland and suburban gardens are favoured habitats.
Portuguese millipedes, first found in South Australia, have now invaded all the southern mainland states.
To discourage predators, the millipede releases a pungent yellowish secretion when disturbed.
This may stain skin or clothes and is extremely irritating if rubbed into the eyes.
Mature black Portuguese millipedes are smooth and cylindrical, 20-45 mm long and slate-grey to black in colour.
Juveniles are light brown and striped. Juveniles hatch from eggs in the soil and reach maturity in two years.
Portuguese millipedes are mostly active at night and are herbivorous.
During hot dry weather, they hide in the soil.
Rainy weather in spring and particularly autumn stimulates activity.
About millipedes
Not much is known about the Australian millipede fauna.
Of the 15 orders of millipedes in the world only nine have been recorded here so far.
Millipedes have long, cylindrical bodies composed of numerous similar segments.
The head has simple eyes (if any), a pair of antennae and chewing mouthparts. Each body segment has two pairs of legs.
Although millipede means 'thousand feet', they don’t really have that many.
However most species have more than 30 pairs of legs and some are known to have about 350 pairs.
Millipedes are herbivores and scavengers, feeding primarily on decaying plant material and animal matter.
They are usually found in cool, moist environments, under rocks and logs, in leaf litter and soil and under the bark of trees.
Most male millipedes have specially designed mating legs which they use to transfer sperm to the females.
Depending on the species, the female lays her eggs in the soil, under logs or in leaf litter.
Newly hatched young have three or four pairs of legs.
Body segments and legs are added with successive moults as they grow, until they reach adult size.
CSIRO Entomology is not currently researching millipedes.
Find out about Millipede Mayhem.
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