SCHOOL'S OUT FOR INVASIVE BUGS
CDF's thesis student Lenyn Betancourt is a familiar face in the schools of Puerto Ayora, where 188 children help him look for unusual invertebrates amongst the plants in the school patio. This pilot programme by the CDF's invertebrate research team is expanding the inventory and monitoring of terrestrial invertebrates in Puerto Ayora. These alert youngsters reflect CDF's commitment to involving the community in their research and enabling them to feel ownership of the results.
"I am back in the same classroom where I first learned about natural sciences" said Betancourt. "This project means I can share the thrill of a new discovery as well as help others understand the threats posed by introduced insects."
The vigor with which the students have assumed the responsibility of monitoring in their own space shows the depth of interest of the community in learning about the environment and invasive species issues. A weevil Sitophilus zeamais and a stink bug Antiteuchus tripterus were recorded for the first time as present in the islands.
"The participation and the support of everyone; children, shopkeepers, homemakers, is fundamental in detecting new introductions before they begin to cause damage," commented Betancourt. Introduced species threaten human health, the local economy and the biodiversity of the archipelago. This project is part of a large scale inventory underway that involves other CDF research staff, the government quarantine team, park wardens and the environmental police. To date 526 insects, spiders and other invertebrates have been registered, including fire ants and the Dengue mosquito.
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