Knotweed bug greeted with caution in Cumbria (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Knotweed bug greeted with caution in Cumbria

10:23am Friday 12th March 2010 in

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THE introduction of a bug to combat Japanese Knotweed has been met with cautious optimism by Cumbrian river organisations.

The lice, known as a psyllid, is to be introduced at two secret locations in Britain by the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International.

The organisation tested the psyllid, which sucks the sap out of the knotweed, on over 90 types of UK plant to ensure it does not attack anything other than Japanese Knotweed. If the first phase is successful, the psyllid will be released at further sites, where it will continue to be monitored.

Ben Lamb, of South Cumbria Rivers Trust, is treating the introduction with caution.

“Many people want rid of knotweed and controlling it one way or another has to be a good thing. But we are cautiously keeping an eye on progress and I would reflect that caution,” he said.

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Historically introductions of biological control haven’t had a great success rate in that the agents of control have caused more problems than they have solved.

“In Cumbria we haven’t got the massive problem that’s elsewhere in the country. It’s not feasible to think that we can eradicate knotweed from Cumbria but this stuff does spread fairly quickly.

“We can hopefully control it here without the psyllid.”

Mr Lamb advises that people ring the South Cumbrian Rivers Trust for more information if they wanted to remove Japanese Knotweed.

He said people should not simply cut off the ends of the Knotweed and not transport the plant to waste disposal centres because this is how the weed spreads.

Japanese Knotweed has no enemies and has been able to thrive.

It is listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species. It can grow up to a metre a month, and penetrates tarmac, concrete and drains, which can cause damage to roads and buildings. The plant also damages our natural environment by stopping other plants from growing and destroying habitats for native species.

Joanne Backshall, Eden Rivers Trust Conservation Officer, said: “Eden Rivers Trust welcomes the introduction of this little creature and we hope it will suppress the problem but it may take some time to do so and we have yet to see the results.

“I was really impressed with the work that’s been done by CABI. I think they’ve done as vigorous a test on it as they could.”