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| Bug House |
| Slime has its uses in this unusual home cleaning method. |
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Most people rely on the tried and tested method of cleaning and pest removal, such as mould killers, cockroach bait and insect sprays.
Martyn Robinson, a scientist with more than two decades of work experience at the Australian Museum, takes a more gentle approach. He prefers to let nature do the job for him, letting the natural enemies of the pests have free run of his home.
One example of this form of biological control in his home is the use of garden slugs, which live in his shower. The best species for this cleaning job are Limax Flava. The native Red Triangle slug also eats mould but tends to stick to the shower curtain. They appear at night and spend the day living in the shower recess.
During shower times the slugs are moved to an area of safety so that they are not scalded by the hot water. Disinfectants are also not used, as these would harm the slugs. They are efficient mould eaters and tend to work harder during cooler weather.
There are more than 20 carnivorous plants around Martyn's house. These catch insects such as ants, flies, mosquitoes, wasps and bees. Examples include Sarracenia and Nepenthes pitcher plants, Butterwort and Forked Sundew plants.
Martyn even has a bat, living in an adapted piece of drainage pipe, which feeds on mosquitoes surrounding the balcony area of his home.
In order to help get rid of cockroaches, Green Tree frogs live in the house in a heated "fish room". The main disadvantage is that they tend to knock lightweight ornaments off the shelves! Huntsman spiders, ants (which attack the eggs) and parasitic wasps also eat cockroaches.
Crab spiders in the garden live off flies, bees, wasps and moths. Webs in the garden should be left alone as spiders carry out many beneficial functions. In the garden, ants also raid termite nests and help prevent infestations in the timber structures of the home.
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More Info
The Australian Museum currently has an exhibition titled Biodiversity: Life supporting life. The exhibition looks at the diversity of living things including plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms and the ecosystems they form. This is open during usual museum opening hours, 9.30am-5pm daily. Entry is free after museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $2 for children and $3 for concession. For further information please call (02) 9320 6000.
The book A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia from Port Augusta to Fraser Island Including Tasmania by Martyn Robinson, is available from all good book stores and the Australian Museum. Published by the Australian Museum and Reed (New Holland) Publications. RRP $19.95.
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Disclaimer
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