| Geckos on patrol | |
|  | | A Standings Day Gecko prepares |
| | A Devon zoo is using free range lizards to control pests in its greenhouses.
In a collaboration between the Reptiles and Gardens departments at Paignton Zoo, geckos are patrolling the greenhouses as a form of biological control. |
| | | The idea to use geckos to control pests came about after a chance conversation between Paignton Zoo's Curator of Plants and Gardens, Ian Turner, and the Head Reptile Keeper, Rod Keen.
The Standings Day Gecko is from south west Madagascar. It normally lives in trees, and feeds on insects and nectar.
Rod Keen has already released four of the animals into the greenhouses, and they're doing well. Now another four are to be added.
 | | Paignton Zoo |
He says they're simply using natural behaviour.
"We're using geckos bred at the zoo. They are an excellent biological control and will take things like mealy bugs and greenfly.
"We use them in our Reptile Tropics exhibit for the same purpose. In the tropics geckos catch insects in people's houses, so we're simply using that natural behaviour."
Paignton Zoo's Curator of Plants and Gardens, Ian Turner, said: "We don't use any pesticides in the greenhouses because plants could take the toxicity into animal enclosures. "
 | | Gecko eager to get to work |
He says they were already using other biological controls including the Australian ladybird and a predatory spider mite.
The greenhouses are being heated so the geckos will be warm through the winter and the staff hope they may eventually breed.
Article published: 28th September 2004
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