Bug approved

Published: Thursday, 11 March 2010

THE Government has this week approved the release of an imported bug which, it is believed, will attack Japanese knotweed.

Unlike pennywort, which flourishes in the water, knotweed grows on the banks at an alarming rate, and smothers native plants.  But like pennywort it has been introduced by people clearing-out gardens etc and dumping the weed in or by waterways.

The Japanese bug, a moth-like creature called a psyllid, lays eggs on the knotweed and its larvae feed on the plant, sucking out its sap. However, some people believe that this too could become another 'invasive' killing off our native plants.