Allotments 4 All

General => News => Topic started by: saddad on July 23, 2009, 09:20:07

Title: Aliens
Post by: saddad on July 23, 2009, 09:20:07: Not "illegal immigrants" but rather Flora and Fauna... just spent the best part of an hour chasing links on the BBC website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7531575.stm

I'm undecided on that Knotweed predator... what happens once it's here... if it develops a taste for something else.. :o
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: 1066 on July 23, 2009, 09:22:32: I saw that article and thought the same thing. You can't help but be reminded of the cane toads in aus!!
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: Unwashed on July 23, 2009, 18:17:47: There was an old lady who swallowed a fly...
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: Obelixx on July 23, 2009, 18:48:21: I'm a bit worried about it jumping to other mebers of the Polygonaceae family such as persicaria. I grow several varieties of this including bistorta, affinis, Red Dragon and a deep red one whose name I know not. Many otehr gardeners have these and more.

According to the BBC site, DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly are seeking public views before releasing the insect next March but I couldn't find a link so I've sent an email asking about if this has been tested to DEFRA via their website.

There's no guarantee that the insects will be happy to starve to death assuming they do manage to munch or suck their way through the UK's infestation of knotweed is there?
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: OllieC on July 23, 2009, 18:59:25: There are many examples of foreign species being introduced & causing more harm than good. There are very few where it has worked...
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: djbrenton on July 23, 2009, 19:27:31: Bloody immigrants, coming over here....eating all our knotweed!
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: valmarg on July 23, 2009, 19:52:30: The RHS has printed articles on this in it's magazine The Garden. You may be better going to www.rhs.org.uk/advice.

Personally, I'm against the introduction of this bug. As OH says, it its so good at killing the plant, why have they still got knotweed in Japan. ???

valmarg
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: Mr Smith on July 23, 2009, 19:56:36: Even Chipmunks are on their way, ;)
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: Georgie on July 23, 2009, 20:31:00: Quote from: djbrenton on July 23, 2009, 19:27:31
Bloody immigrants, coming over here....eating all our knotweed!

Ha ha ha - nice one. ;D

I think it's a worry, too. No guarantees that they'll stop at Knotweed.

G x
Title: Re: Aliens
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 23, 2009, 21:46:04: I hope they've done adequate trials to check that it won't eat our native plants. As for chipmunks, that's what results from irresponsible pet owners letting their unwanted animals go. They've got an even bigger problem with pythons in Florida.