Caterpillars invade school

KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of caterpillars invaded a primary school in Malaysia's Malacca state turning the building black, a news report said Wednesday.

Students and teachers at the Pengkalan Balak Primary School were greeted by the caterpillars when they arrived for class Tuesday morning, the Harian Metro tabloid said.

The caterpillars were found crawling all over the school's front gate, an area near the canteen, in drains, on pavement, stairways and walls.

This is the first time such an incident has happened," said student affairs teacher, Ibrahim Daud.

That morning, various parts of the school were bathed in a sea of black because of the many caterpillars crawling about, he added.

"We do not know where the insects came from, though we are trying to find the source. The number of caterpillars declined after 10 a.m. when the day became hotter," he said.

He noted the ethnic-Chinese community believe this is the time of year when caterpillars reproduce.

The school's staff sprayed the caterpillars with soapy water, and the municipal council also doused the area with pesticides. --DPA