Hello Everyone. I am Whan-hee, Lee and I'm 8th grade in middle school.
(Applause)
Today, I would like to talk about odd food chain that is related with urban living ladybugs.
Is here anyone of you thought that any creature in this world are same as a human being like us?
None of you?
(laugh)
Last July 20th, I saw a terrible scene when I went to rooftop of my apartment to discover eclipse.
A huge amount of ladybugs were killed by the heat of electric lights.
It was not only such an awful scene but also heartbreaking.
¡®Why these bugs died in here?¡¯
¡®Where they came from?¡¯
¡®Why were they killed?¡¯
Incidentally, I realized something was going on.
So, my friend and I took their bodies in a plastic bag that I brought with get them with my friend.
Few days later, I walked up to the rooftop and discovered that
there were lots of ladybugs were killed on the lights as same as the last time.
As I look through it, they were killed particularly on the lights which are located toward to City Park and ponds.
which are located toward to City Park and ponds.
¡®Why are they killed in here?¡¯ I asked to myself.
(Ah-Sigh)
(Laugh)
At that time, I was wondering not only what causes their death but also wanted to save their lives.
Although it was the first time that I was trying to figure out this kind of situation, I had no idea what to do.
So, I just went up there and discovered their dead bodies every day.
As I researched their dead bodies,
I noticed where they got killed most and least. Furthermore, I found out that there were some spots they were not killed too.
They were mostly get killed on spot lights where it is close to lake and parks.
So I named that places "The Killing Spots".
On the rooftop, there are approximately 55 electric light set up
and 7 killing spots as well.
As I researched it constantly, I could draw a conclusion which is
electric lights is the main cause to kill the ladybugs.
Do you know how much the ladybugs are beneficial to our lives?
(No)
(laugh)
I knew it since I was in kindergarten.
(Wow~)
(Laugh)(Applause)
A one ladybug consumes about 4000 aphid during its life time.
According to my observation, from July 20th of 2009 through August 20th of this year, 2010,
approximately 60~70 ladybugs were killed per day.
You will find out by calculation, it will show about 2000 ladybugs get killed in one month.
However, if these ladybugs are still alive, they could consume about 720 million to 840 million aphids.
Now you can recognize that, ladybugs are such a powerful aphids killer, right?
(Yes!)
So one thought came up to my mind that, if death rate of ladybugs are continuously increase,
we will get killed by vegetables we eat that is growing up on over pesticide soil for its own protection,
which was initially meant to keep away from get damaged by harmful insects.
Does anyone here know 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson?
(Laugh)
(Seems like she does not expect any positive feedback)
I also wanted to figure out if there is same situation occurred in close area, such as a building right next to where I live.
To get some more data, I set up 3 different comparison groups which are: 1. the one that does not have electric light on the roof top. 2. The one has electric light but different atmosphere
3. And the last one where I am living now.
As a result, I discovered there was none of ladybugs' death found in the first group
and lesser death rate of ladybugs in the second group,.
Newly developed apartments in these days,
they installed dazzling electric lights to get people¡¯s attention who are likely to be expected residents
and guilty ladybugs are killed by its lights
Despite I tried to tell the truth, I rebuked by residents who are living in that apartment.
(laugh)
These are the research that I made during my 7th grade year.
(Wow~)
This year 2010, as spring came, the ladybugs are still get killed by electric light,
caught on my mind as a burden
'How can I save their lives?' I thought. I was craving to save ladybugs.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through my brain. 'What if I make a gardening plot on the rooftop?'
That came up to me.
The idea was based on weekend farm, what my family owns. (*Weekend farm : Small farm for city people. located nearby city and rented to people who want to do agricultural activities.)
I am used to gather some chives from bare ground,
from weekend farm, I do a lots of harvesting works out there.
(laugh)
So I started to set this thing up on my apartment¡¯s roof top.
To do this work, I put soil on polystyrene box and rose: pepper, lettuce, bell pepper, egg plant,
A place where many ladybugs are killed, I installed more farms
and fewer farms for small amount get killed.
There was no big difference during first couple of days. No indication at all.
However, June 13 2010, some ladybugs have discovered in lived status.
(Wow~) Haha
I was really happy with that result.
At first, only one ladybug was alive, but more of them get survived as time goes by.
Furthermore, some of them was metamorphosed and finally became imago as well.
and also, there were some of them came for electric lights and flew away alive. That environment gradually formed a one ecosystem.
Death rate of ladybugs had been decreasing, but they kept dying on the electric lights.
Especially this year, rainy days kept repeated, and it caused not only washed dead bodies of ladybugs away
but also disappeared themselves.
Saving all the ladybugs were uneasy job to accomplish.
As simple garden, which was the only thing I could afford, failed I felt desperate.
Yet, I could not give up. Since the main reason killing ladybugs were electric lights,
I thought that I could turn the lights to save ladybugs.
So I tried to find a chief manager of my apartment.
I requested for an interview and he replied me back within a few days.
I brought my research paper and showed it to him
to get his opinion.
As he looked through, even if it is reasonable report, it might be hard to turn off the lights
because of the residents will disagree with that.
So, it became an another fail, so I went to upper department, where was city district office.
(Wow!! Applause)
Thank you
It was another same process. I called and make an appointment for an interview
with the city building department's managers.
After a little conversation, he replied me back the same opinion that I got from
my apartment manager.
As well as economic problem, there would be some problems with urban environment design regulation too.
Second negotiation failed again.
Wasn't that 3 unsuccessful moments? The rooftop garden project went into fail,
first and second negotiation also failed. It was such a bitter experience.
Eventually, I was looking for some people who can help me with this problem on the internet.
and I finally got to meet the Professor Eui-Suk, Jung from Kyung-won University.
He helped me to meet Ki-hyuk, Ko from lightning company called "Bittro".
Those two people helped me out to be able to distinguish what type of lamps are installed on the roof top and its characteristics as well.
Metal halide type lamp, which currently installed on the roof top, when the lamp generates, it occurs emission of UV
to attract to kill the ladybugs with its heat
Since the bug lamps block more than 99% of UVs, it won¡¯t catch attention of any flying insects,
if metal halide lamp could be switched to bug lamp.
FYI, the bug lamps are organic product that coated its cover with titanium or minerals
to block UV emission that flying insects likes.
It is currently using in resort, cattle fields, orchards, and semiconductor factories etc,
where work their job done with UVs.
The problem is its costs which are 2 to 3 times more than metal halide.
Now I have only one goal to achieve. Switching metal halide lamp to bug lamp or
just turn off the metal halide lamp on apartment's roof top.
In addition, make them turn off the lights
or install bug lamps on newly built apartments
Do you want to leave guilty ladybugs death for
humans' selfishness and satisfaction?
It reminds me a proverb from Seattle chief in America 150years ago.
¡®There is only one God. No man, be the Red man or White man, can be apart. We ARE all brothers after all¡¯
Do we have to let my mother and brother sick and harm for our own good?
From the nature or our mother, we are the one with them.
If we are able to see through backsides of tiny species what are dying in behind of the beautiful and attractive lights,
we will be living happier and healthier life.
Thank you.
(Applause)