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japanese knotweed.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by honestdewdrops (U11729273) on Tuesday, 14th October 2008

  did anyone see the article on the news at ten about biological control of knotweed a couple of days ago.i only caught a glimpse,and they were talking about a little beetle.my mums neighbour has loads of it in her garden,and it has run into both our garden,and also into our direct neighbours garden.so it now grows through from both the side and the back(if that makes sense).i do wonder though about the impact this little beetle could possibly have on other plants.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008

  It is supposed to do well against knotweed in Japan but I just wonder whether in the UK it will subsequently transfer its attentions to ornamental and desirable relatives in the persicaria family. I have 5 varieties in my garden that I do not want to see eaten by this beetle.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by jennie-wren (U9422284) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008

  All I keep thinking of is the disaster of mixi in rabbits and the cain toads in Australia, they were both indroduced and caused chaos.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008

  Not to mention harlequin ladybirds to eat aphids and who then scoffed native ladybirds and then accidental escapes and mischievous releases of critters such as American crayfish eating UK native crayfish or giving them diseases, mink and coypu in the waterways, Ninja terrapins and so on.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by greeneddy (U6603838) on Thursday, 16th October 2008

  <quote&gt.i do wonder though about the impact this little beetle could possibly have on other plants.</quote>
  
  So good to come on the boards and see people thinking exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for flagging this up.
  It was only a short article I saw, in The Guardian I think. Anyone know its Latin name, to google? What if it eats earthworms for afters?

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 16th October 2008

  According to an article on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã News Science & Environment pages - the scientiists concerned claim to have identified numerous Japanese pests and diseases which will control knotweed and have further tested those to identify one sap sucking pest which will not change host plants, even to close relatives.
  
  However, over 5 years of research they have had a budget of just £600,000 and only done tests in labs so, I still feel sceptical about releasing this bug into the wild.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by honestdewdrops (U11729273) on Friday, 17th October 2008

  im all for research into various things,and i myself am fascinated by space probes etc,but i do feel irritated by the fact that such vast sums of money gets put into research that doesnt benefit ....well anyone really,yet we have a nationwide epidemic such as knotweed and they have a budget of 600.000,which,ok is a large sum of money,but if this isnt properly researched ,it could wreak havoc on our flora and fauna,and possibly even our wildlife.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Holbert (U3994703) on Sunday, 19th October 2008

  This is a subject very close to my heart, as I bought a house 2 years ago on a one acre plot of land, that is infested with Japanese Knotweed.
  
  I didn't know it was at the time, as I didn't know what Japaense Knotweed looked like so despite the dead spears being in evidence all over the place along with brambles and nettles, I didn't know what it was. One border of our land is a river, which is covered on its banks on both sides in Japanese Knotweed. There's much less now than there was as we've been spraying it or injecting it with Roundup every time it appears but knotweed is a massive problem round here. Wish I'd known before as I would probably have offered twenty grand less for the house than I did , if I'd known what a huge problem it is.)
  
  Anyway, according to the Japanese Knotweed Alliance the bug in question is an Aphalara psyllid (whatever that is).
  
  I'd like to see a solution to this pernicious pest of a weed, but I too share my doubts about releasing an insect or fungus into the wild here. I'm most worried about it finding it has a greater appetite for, say, our native bees, than Japanese Knotweed.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Holbert (U3994703) on Sunday, 19th October 2008

  Here's a pic of and info about the psyllid in question:
  
  
  

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by pottiepam (U11118368) on Monday, 20th October 2008

  Sorry about your problem Holbert. You might have a case against the surveyers or estate agents. It is a serious pest and apparently it is illegal to built on a site for ten years after knotweed has been erradicated from that site as it can grow up into the house. I've seen it pushing up through tarmac roads.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by ezageeza (U11292630) on Thursday, 23rd October 2008

  Saw a press release today announcing that Bayer are about to launch a super strength formulation of glyphosate which it's claimed will be a major step forward in knotweed control...not sure when its actually coming to market, or if it will be available on the amateur market (possibly not I suspect) but worth keeping an eye out just in case.

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by Gaynor Witchard (U11583299) on Sunday, 26th October 2008

  I live near a river bank over which the dreaded knotweed has made steady progress through the years. I noticed last week, however, that it appears to have been treated with something and it's all brown now - as is the grass beneath it as well! I just hope whatever the council has used won't destroy the wild flowers that have started to colonise the bank...I shall keep an eye on it.

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