Alien Predator to be introduced to the UK
Since the arrival of the Giant Japanese Knotweed that was first introduced by the Victorians, it has spread like wildfire across the UK and Europe. For the first time in the EU scientists are using a bio-control, using an insect, Psyllid Aphalara Itadori, a natural enemy of the Giant Knotweed to fight and to stop the spread of the knotweed and try to wipe it out completely in the UK.
The insects will only be introduced for a trial run at a handful of sites this coming spring - these strange insects will supplement the job of the £1.6Billion project to eliminate and remove the knotweed in Britain. Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "These tiny insects, which naturally prey on Japanese Knotweed, will help free local authorities and industry from the huge cost of treating and killing this devastating plant."
Knotweed lives in its native countries of Japan, North China, Korea and Taiwan, where the weed presents nowhere near the problem it now poses across Europe, America and New Zealand. Because it’s natural habitat is on the slopes of volcanoes; it is no surprise that the less harsh and more fertile environment of Britain has allowed this plant to flourish to extreme proportions. Furthermore, outside of Asia, the plant has no natural enemies, for example, in its native environment; there are at least 30 species of insect and 6 species of fungi that live on the plant.
By Ella, Olivia and Saliya