Bristol pupils bid to save conker trees

Children at Brentry Primary School are helping scientists find out if an "alien" moth that is damaging conker trees can be defeated.

The firethorn leaf-miner from Macedonia was discovered in Britain in 2002 and since then it has spread rapidly across the country.

Leaves on heavily infested horse chestnut trees turn brown where the moth lays its eggs and then fall off.

But there is a natural predator, a type of wasp that lays its eggs inside the firethorn leaf-miner caterpillars and kills them.

Ten and 11-year-old pupils at Brentry Primary Schools have been given plastic bags each containing an infested leaf.

The children have to check the leaves to see if the caterpillars hatch out or if the wasps hatch instead and how many there are.

About 900 Bristol school children are helping with the experiment, which is being led by Dr Darren Evans and Dr Michael Pocock of Bristol University's School of Biological Sciences.

Dr Evans said: "As biologists, it's very exciting for us as this is the first time that anyone has looked at how many alien moths on conker trees have been attacked by natural pest controlling insects.

"As well as showing pupils how important insects are, both as pests and pest controllers, the experiment will introduce the children to a part of 'our web of life', the complex system that links all living things."

Harry Wright, 11, a pupil at Brentry, said: "I like insects and I'm quite excited about taking part in the experiment."

Classmate Demi Hartry, 10, said it would be a shame if children couldn't collect conkers any more because of the alien moth.

She said: "I used to walk home with my dad and we would collect hundreds of them."

Megan Smith, 10, said: "Usually in science lessons we have to write things down – this is much more interesting."

The project is supported by the university, British Ecological Society and the Natural Environment Research Council.