7:00pm Thursday 11th March 2010
By Bob Jolliffe
AN INSECT dubbed a sap-sucking, jumping plant louse is to be used to control invasive concrete-cracking Japanese knotweed in the UK.
It was given its nickname by Catherine Chatters, New Forest non-native plants officer for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
The trust was one of the consultees which gave a cautious go-ahead to the Department of Food and Rural Affairs for psyllis trials to begin.
“At the moment they have only been given permission for it to be used at some secret locations,” said Catherine.
“We responded last year. We gave it a cautious welcome because at the time they were doing a search on other plants that were related to the Japanese Knotweed and we wanted to make sure that the psyllis would not go off and munch away at other plants that were related.”
The trust welcomes “research into techniques, such as biological control, which have the potential to control this plant”.
There is not a major problem with Japanese Knotweed in the New Forest area, most clumps being in gardens.
However, Catherine knows of patches by the Cadnam River and either side of the Lymington River, in a Network Rail compound and at Undershore.
Japanese Knotweed is listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species and containing it costs the UK £150 million a year. While it dies back leaving tall brown stalks in the winter, it can grow up to a metre a month in the spring and summer.
The psyllis, Latin name Aphalara itadori, is a natural predator on knotweed in Japan. It will be the first time an imported insect will be used to control invasive plants in the UK.
To date it has been tried and tested on 90 UK plants. If the first trial phase is successful the psyllis will be released at further sites.
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