BBC News - Insect that fights Japanese knotweed to be released

You will never really know until you let the genie out of the bottle. I hope we don't regret it.

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Ten minutes from Tweed, Teviot, and Kale.

by the time anyone realises it will be to late anyway


gonna take some tying them at only 2mm long when they are on the water

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

The Government has today announced approval to release the psyllid bug Aphala itadori for use as a biological control against Japanese knotweed. This will be the first time a classical biological control has been released against an invasive non-native plant in Europe.

Background
Current Japanese knotweed management is largely performed using formulations of glyphosate herbicide that are approved for use in or near water. On development sites, a range of other management techniques are available, as described in our knotweed code of practice, published in 2005. In 2003, Defra published an estimate of £1.56 billion as a conservative cost for controlling Japanese knotweed using existing management techniques. Japanese knotweed is currently costing the UK economy £150 million per annum.

We have been instrumental in encouraging research into the potential use of biological, or natural control. We have been a project partner since 2003, and have contributed £135,951 towards the research. The project has been led by Cornwall Council, formerly Cornwall County Council. The proposal to release the psyllid has been reviewed and approved by the Advisory Committee for Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and three independent peer reviewers appointed by Defra. It has also been approved by the Chief Scientist. The psyllid will be initially released at selected sites for the contingency phase of the release, as stipulated by ACRE. If any adverse environmental impacts are observed the psyllid can then be eradicated. Once the contingency phase is complete, the psyllid will be allowed to spread naturally.


Key Issues for the Environment Agency

We welcome the opportunity for a biological means of knotweed management, which should reduce our costs and herbicide use near watercourses.

We are also supporting research into potential biological control for Himalayan balsam, floating pennywort, giant hogweed and Australian swamp stonecrop. As European Directives reduce the potential use of herbicide in or near water, we must invest in alternative means of weed management.

Successful biological control of Japanese knotweed will be an important outcome for the Water Framework Directive.

Climate change is likely to exacerbate the spread of non-native aquatic and riparian plants. This will place additional stresses on our ability to reduce flood risk unless sustainable methods of management are found.

Trevor Renals
Policy Advisor 2, Invasive species.
9 March 2010

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"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org

Oops CAUTION! Is this another "Daft Idea" by our scientific boffins? Yet another alien species being introduced in to the UK, Will it mingle with the natives? maybe it will eat the natural flora & fauna and ignore the foreign plants that invade us? will it bring disease to our own native insects? We're often asking people to keep a lookout for the March Brown! Where have they gone? we see very few of them these days! But the EA, seem to welcome any new initiative that would possibly eradicate the Knot weed and Balsam from our river banks! Would be interesting to read the results of tests already carried out in the UK.

The potential agents

Although one can't help but be reminded of the nursery rhyme: There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.............The end of which is - She's dead of course!

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"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org

Thanks for the link Rob, Potential Agents! It takes a bit of time to read! Wow, extensive tests on 87, species of plant; but only under laboratory conditions! They admit that the psyllid may react differently when released in to the natural environment? although DEFRA have approved release in certain controlled areas in England & Wales! Results of those tests should be interesting! They also state that using the : Speckled Syllid; Itadori Madarakijirami, is only a potential solution to the problem of Japanese Knot weed! They re also considering : Myacospharella - Polygoni Cuspidati : A leaf spot fungus!

There is no mention of the effects on other insect life during the test period! Although they do state, that Aphalara Itadori; the sap sucking Psyllid is potentially "Harmless to our native plants" but no mention on the affects on the possible effect on our native Insect and Bug life! I hope this experiment will prove to be the answer in eradicating the Japanese Knotweed! Although I would still Err, on the side of Caution!

There was that old Lady who swallowed a fly!

Interesting though! Lets hope it works without any harmful side effects to the British Bugs and Insects!

This scenario has gone wrong more than a few times now...

ive already tied some using the neck feathers of a cock pheasant, the ones we term as owl feathers, and they were tied on a sz 20 and still looked a bit big sz 24 next