Inside China Today

Millipedes plague town in Sichuan

On April 29th in Huanglin village, Sichuan Province, villagers pleaded with local pest-control specialists working for the government, to do something about a foul-smelling millipede plague emerging from a nearby mountain forrest. The insects gather in cool shady places, making life difficult for local farmers, as well as polluting local water sources such as wells. This situation has already continued for over ten days, and locals are desperate. Huanglin village is situated on the banks of the Daning river.

Local resident, Liu Shaoping said this phenomenon had occurred in the village three years ago. At that time agricultural chemicals were used to exterminate the insects. Then, the insects covered an area of about 6.6 hectares. Ｔｈｅ current return of the insects this month has covered more than 20 hectares. Liu Shaoping expressed that even if strong chemicals were used now, it would be difficult to clear out the insects.

At present, the insects have already polluted eight local wells. Locals are now completely dependent on buckets of water collected from a source in the mountains three kilometers away, which is distributed by the government. The insects, several different types of them, breed extremely quickly. They are becoming a serious health issue for local families, as the millipedes’ secretion not only smells extremely foul, but is corrosive, and can cause swelling, blistering and dermatitis if it comes in contact with human skin. If it comes in contact with a person’s mouth or eyes, the inflammation is serious.

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