 |
Search News
News Categories
Browse Products
| |
Japanese knotweed to be tackled with bugs 
Mowdirect news > Gardening News
Friday, June 13 2008 19:05:27 by Alison Patel
Alison Patel writes: Weeds that are taking over buildings and train tracks and clogging up riverbanks could be stopped by a sap-sucking super-bug from Japan.
Japanese knotweed causes millions of pounds worth of damage in the UK each year but is controlled in its native country by vampire-like psyllid bugs.
Researchers hope that by introducing the tiny predators into the country, the weed will be bought back under control.
Dr Dick Shaw, the principal investigator at environmental research body CABI Europe, who led the research, said the weed had the "biodiversity value of concrete" and had lost its natural enemies in the UK.
After a four year, £440,000 study, Dr Shaw's team were able to establish that the bugs, imported under strict quarantine measures from Japan, would not harm Britain's native species.
The team also discovered that the creatures would simply control the weed, rather than kill it, as one could not survive without the other.
Victorians first bought the weed into the UK as an ornamental plant, not realising it would spread across the country.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will have the final decision on whether the bug is released.
 Printer Friendly  Send to a Friend
| Related "Gardening News" News |
|
Allotment holders show fruit and veg at town show
(Monday, September 01 2008 17:33:18)
|
|
Allotment holders in Northampton gathered together to display the 'best of British produce' at the Delapre Family Show, the Northmapton Chronicle and Echo reports. ... [ more ]
|
 |
|
Staff at school brave sky dive to raise funds for sensory garden
(Thursday, August 28 2008 18:14:15)
|
|
Staff at a Scottish school have completed a sponsored sky dive to raise funds for a sensory garden, South Ayrshire Council reported. ... [ more ]
|
|
|
Southport flower show will attract 80,000 visitors
(Thursday, August 21 2008 19:09:18)
|
|
Starting this morning (August 21st), the Southport Flower Show is expected to attract 80,000 visitors and some of the most famous names in horticulture over the next four days. ... [ more ]
|
|
|
Rare frog is given protection by minister for wildlife
(Tuesday, August 19 2008 18:51:50)
|
|
A rare frog that croaks in a 'northern accent' is set to be given legal protection upon its reintroduction to the UK. ... [ more ]
|
|
|
Expert advice on how to cultivate foxtail grasses
(Tuesday, August 19 2008 18:48:48)
|
|
A leading expert in plant cultivation has provided a series of tips on how to get the best results when growing foxtail grasses. ... [ more ]
|
|
| |
|
| | Special Offer
Story Archive
Please select the month you want to see:
· November, 2008
· October, 2008
· September, 2008
· August, 2008
· July, 2008
· June, 2008
· May, 2008
· April, 2008
· March, 2008
· February, 2008
· January, 2008
· December, 2007
· November, 2007
· October, 2007
· September, 2007
· August, 2007
· July, 2007
· June, 2007
· May, 2007
· April, 2007
· March, 2007
· February, 2007
· January, 2007
[ Show ALL Stories ]
|
Special Offers
|
|
RSS news feed
