Will they ever learn..

bbam · 19-09-2012 1:10pm #1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8555378.stm

I see in the UK they are importing and releasing a non-native insect in an attempt to control Japenese knotweed..

Chances are due to our proximity we'll see this insect here too, only a matter of time..

To me this stinks of the introduction of Maxi to control rabbits or the accidental release of grey squirrels..

Surely the risks of this going wrong outweigh the potential savings in weed control... who knows what native species will be affected and what the effects will be in a few years..

EDIT:
The same site has a 2008 article citing the problematic invasive plants and insects been seen..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7531575.stm

Black Smoke · 19-09-2012 1:22pm

bbam wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8555378.stm

I see in the UK they are importing and releasing a non-native insect in an attempt to control Japenese knotweed..

Chances are due to our proximity we'll see this insect here too, only a matter of time..

To me this stinks of the introduction of Maxi to control rabbits or the accidental release of grey squirrels..

Surely the risks of this going wrong outweigh the potential savings in weed control... who knows what native species will be affected and what the effects will be in a few years..

EDIT:
The same site has a 2008 article citing the problematic invasive plants and insects been seen..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7531575.stm[/QUOTE]

Now if they had one to control ragwort, I'd order a batch of them myself:cool:

Markcheese · 19-09-2012 5:33pm

They have... I think it's the cinnabar moth (or something like that) the caterpillars look like Kilkenny fans ( black and Amber) but they demolish ragwort... Don't know if you can buy them commercially or what time of the year you'd put them out to get most effect ....

eddiek · 19-09-2012 6:23pm

anything for rushes?

Black Smoke · 19-09-2012 7:24pm

eddiek wrote: »

anything for rushes?

And docks? -:)

pakalasa · 19-09-2012 7:38pm

I watched a programme last night on CCD, Colony Collapse Disorder. Basically in the states, whole bee hives were dying suddenly and noboby had a clue why it was happening. Without the hives they were looking at up to 50% crop failure rates. Basically they drive lorry loads of these hives from area to area, depending of the crop of fruit etc. It really drove home just how delicate our whole ecosystem is.

Cavanjack · 19-09-2012 8:28pm

Bit like the cane toads in Australia. 100 or so Introduced to control the cane beatles sometime in the thirties. The Beatles climbed up the sugar cane higher so the toads had little impact. There are now millions of cane toads and are seen as a major pest and you are allowed kill them at will. Leave well enough alone I say.