Selwyn Times: August 26, 2020

16 Wednesday August 26 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
SELWYN TIMES
Pupils show determination
and strength in school quiz
FORTY PUPILS in the
district took part in the
Rotary Club of Lincoln’s
annual school quiz last
week.
The aim of the quiz was
to encourage learning
among the children.
This year, the event
attracted 20 schools with
two participants from
each.
Parents and teachers
joined in to support the
young competitors.
Questions were provided
by the teachers for the rotary
club to choose from.
The competition was
split into the year 7-8 and
year 5-6 age groups.
Leeston Consolidated
School pupils Max Wilson
and Elle Clough won the
year 5-6 division.
Other junior winners
were from Southbridge
and Dunsandel schools,
senior winners were from
Tai Tapu, Springston,
Prebbleton, Weedons,
West Melton and West
Rolleston schools.
They all received gift
BACKYARD CRITTERS
Mike Bowie is an ecologist who specialises in entomology
(insects and other invertebrates). Each week he introduces
a new species found in his backyard at Lincoln. His column
aims to raise public awareness of biodiversity, the variety of
living things around us. Check out the full list of invertebrates
found at www.inaturalist.org/projects/backyard-biodiversity-bugs-in-mylincoln-section
Tadpole snail handy
in ponds and tanks
PHYSELLA ACUTA, the
acute bladder snail or
tadpole snail is an invasive
global species.
This freshwater snail is
a 6-10mm long sinistral
species, meaning the
aperture (opening) is on
the left-hand side when the
spire is pointing up and
the aperture is facing the
observer.
The snails have four to
five whorls in the shell
and vary in colour from
light honey to brown with
yellow-orange spots on the
shell.
Unlike many other
land and freshwater snails
Physella acuta does not
have an operculum, the
trap-door structure used
for defence. Instead it
flicks its shell rapidly
back and forth to avoid
predation.
The species has a wide
distribution around the
world and lives in rivers,
streams, lakes, ponds and
swamps.
SUCCESS: Leeston Consolidated School pupils
Max Wilson and Elle Clough took out first place in
the year 6 division of the Rotary Club of Lincoln’s
primary school quiz. ​
cards and book vouchers
from Rotary president
Gary Kennett.
Leeston Consolidated
School principal Lynda
Taylor said the competition
was strong and they
are very proud of the
COMMON: The acute bladder snail or tadpole
snail cleans up alge, dead plant and animal
matter.
The snails feed mainly
on algae and also dead
plant and animal matter,
avoiding competition with
other species that feed on
living plants.
The snails are
hermaphrodites and can
breed to large populations
pupils and the great determination
they showed.
Organiser David Drake
said he was surprised some
of the students were able
to answer more questions
correctly than some of the
adults.
quickly in optimum
conditions.
They are sometimes
used in aquariums to clean
up detritus or as food for
some fish.
The snail lives for 3-12
months depending on the
temperature.