A trial release of a Japanese Psyllid Aphalara itadori (a hemipteroid sap-sucking insect) has been sanctioned to take place in Swansea in July. The following two newspaper articles are all I I know about at present:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/mobile/wales/south_west/8585344.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/5893697/Insects-to-be-brought-in-to-control-Japanese-Knotweed.html
Personally I have reservations about how effective a control agent it will actually be. As far as I am aware it will not be used to transmit a specific pathogen, so surely it's just going to live on the plant, rather than eradicate it! From the little I know about this project, it currently makes no sense to me, but I'll be happy to be put on the right track.
1 comment:
Perhaps the newly arroved Harlequin Ladybirds will control these control agents before they have a chance to control the Knotweed! Ecology is never simple and I suspect this trial will throw up a few surprises...
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