Japanese Kn otweek - Plans to introduce alien insect control

[Hobjob]

Britain calls on alien parasites to take fight to Japanese knotweed - This Britain, UK - The Independent

Interesting article.

I had not realized that ALL of the European Kap Knot had come in from one female plant and is all asexually / vegetatively reproduced from that !!!

Highly contentious. but in southern Africa the pricklypear has been well controlled by an alien insect ........

Discuss

[solus]

Oh dear.

To introduce another alien species in attempt to get rid of the first is, in my opinion, likely to cause further problems on its own account in due course.

Generally speaking, any alien species, whether introduced deliberatley or accidentally - and I do not include anything that has arrived naturally by range expansion - has caused problems sooner or later for native species and the environment/habitat. Think grey squirrels, domestic cats, rats and hedgehogs on islands where none occur naturally, mink, ring-necked parakeets, bunnies in Australia, wild boar, ex-pet ninja-turtles.... I don't know much about alien bugs and insects but I'm pretty sure some of those have caused problems too.

There must be a better way to eradicate Japanese Knotweed, surely, even if it is labour-intensive and needs to be repeated annually for a while....

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by solus

Oh dear.

To introduce another alien species in attempt to get rid of the first is, in my opinion, likely to cause further problems on its own account in due course.

Generally speaking, any alien species, whether introduced deliberatley or accidentally - and I do not include anything that has arrived naturally by range expansion - has caused problems sooner or later for native species and the environment/habitat. Think grey squirrels, domestic cats, rats and hedgehogs on islands where none occur naturally, mink, ring-necked parakeets, bunnies in Australia, wild boar, ex-pet ninja-turtles.... I don't know much about alien bugs and insects but I'm pretty sure some of those have caused problems too.

There must be a better way to eradicate Japanese Knotweed, surely, even if it is labour-intensive and needs to be repeated annually for a while....

Mt sentiments exactly solus...When will they ever learn..They can't see past their stupid noses.