GO 12 December 2019

6 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702-2125. Find us on Facebook 12 December 2019 GO & EXPRESS
GO! SCHOOLS e-mail:
goexpress@tisoblackstar.co.za
graphic © seamartini / 123RF.com
Insects busy cleaning Nahoon River
Merrifield and CBC release
bugs to help reduce pollution
MATTHEW FIELD
Back in November, the GO! &
Express reported about a
collaboration between
Merrifield College and the
Centre for Biological Control
(CBC) that saw the school
breeding specialised planteating
insects to help combat
water hyacinth in the Nahoon
River (Pupils help collect and
breed insects to clean Nahoon,
November 10).
In the month since the
project began, Merrifield pupils
and staff have been taking good
care of the 800 Meg amelus
scutellaris, also known as water
hyacinth planthoppers, which
they received from the CBS and
have seen a positive growth in
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: From left, Merrifield College teachers Gerald White and Pauline
Wetmore, CBC PhD student Rosali Smith and CBC researcher Ben Miller Picture: SUPPLIED
insect numbers, thanks in part to
the warmer summer weather.
The school’s first batch of
insects was released recently,
along with another 12,000
insects released by the centre.
However, the CBC said it
could take years before any
impact became visible.
The insect population needs
time to grow and efforts are also
needed to reduce the level of
pollution in the river.
Merrifield and the CBC are
hoping to release a new batch of
insects every week in 2020.
PLAYING AROUND
S A N TA’S HELPERS
IN THE JUNGLE: The middle aftercare at Hudson Park Primary School recently installed a new
jungle gym, which is sure to entertain the pupils Picture: SUPPLIED
IN CHARACTER: Pupils from Stirling Primary School get ready backstage for their foundation
phase Christmas Concert Picture: SUPPLIED
GOING GREEN
WATER-WISE: Lilyfontein School recently planted a new water-wise garden containing
indigenous plants, with the help of Sandy Tidbury, Lee-Ann Geldenhuys and the school’s
dedicated ground staff Picture: SUPPLIED