Insect that fights Japanese knotweed to be released

[dipsydoodle]

A tiny Japanese insect that could help the fight against an aggressive superweed has been given the go-ahead for a trial release in England.

Since Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK it has rapidly spread, and the plant currently costs over £150m a year to control and clear.

But scientists say a natural predator in the weed's native home of Japan could also help to control it here.

The insect will initially be released in a handful of sites this spring.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8555378.stm

For introduced maybe read brought into Kew Gardens in the 19th century and escaped. Its already illegal to move or transplant it - it takes over all othr vegetation. However - some like its pretty pink flowers whilst other know you can make a crumble from it so unfortunately it does get moved about.

[YankeyMCC]

1. Eastern Mass

Is covered in the stuff too, at least it makes pretty good pies and the early young shoots can make a nice asparagus like dish.

[OnlinePoker]

2. And what's going to kill the insect?

Vicious cycle trying to introduce one species to kill another. It often ends up with unexpected consequences.

[kestrel91316]

3. They generally only do this now after extensive research to prove that

the insect involved is a parasite completely and utterly dependent on the target species. It's not 1850, you know. Targeting invasive species with other species is a well-established field of ecology.

Link to website of USDA's national invasive species branch: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
Go do some reading. It's actually fascinating and very cool. They did it with purple loosestrife in the Upper Midwest recently and it has been a HUGE help against THAT plague.