Expert Proposes Salt and Other Measures to Control Millipedes

By Admin. Updated 7:07 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

In various communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), red millipedes have become an unwelcome presence, infiltrating homes and public spaces alike. 

These creatures can be found in bedrooms, ceilings, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages, leading some residents to describe their proliferation as a plague of biblical proportions.

Reports indicate that these millipedes reproduce at an alarming rate; it is not uncommon for homeowners to remove several shovels full from one area of their property, only to find more reappearing within days. 

Their activity intensifies at night during rainy weather when they cover walls with their unsettling presence.

The red millipede, scientifically known as Trigoniulus corallinus, grows to about 4-5 centimeters long, according to a scholarly article on Researchgate.net. It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia but has since spread globally through trade. Their presence in SVG and other neighbouring Caribbean islands such as Grenada and Barbados has been noted for several years now.

The Trigoniulus corallinus is described as a detritivore, meaning it feeds on decaying plants. For humans, it is not poisonous and does not bite, but many communities are grappling with the nuisance the red millipede presents. Of recent, people in Prospect, Bequia, Argyle, and other Windward, Leeward, and Grenadine communities have voiced their frustration over the overwhelming presence of the species in SVG. 

As concerns grow about this invasive species, residents are seeking effective strategies for control and management.

One expert in Barbados has suggested using salt as a potential measure to combat the millipede invasion and prevent them from entering homes. 

Barbados’ Senior Agricultural Officer, Mr. Brent Taylor told GIS Barbados, “You can use salt all around the border of the house and that would dissipate the millipedes”. 

He also provided some other control methods in this video report.