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The Radio 3 Boards > General Chat > News And Current Affairs > Plant-eating predators from Japan
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Author Topic: Plant-eating predators from Japan  (Read 126 times)
Peter Grimes
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« on: 10:03:39, 13-10-2008 »
Does King Kennytone know about this? It could spell the end of Japanese knotweed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7531221.stm
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #1 on: 10:09:13, 13-10-2008 »
When I read an article like this, I can't help thinking that down the line the predators that are introduced to deal with one pest can very easily become a pest themselves. I suppose there's a link to American foreign policy here...
Cabi tend to know what they're doing though and an awful lot of research will have gone into making sure that this won't happen.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #2 on: 10:13:30, 13-10-2008 »
On the other hand, they might discover something else they prefer more, such as oak trees or roses, for example, and leave the knotweed completely alone whilst attacking native species. There's also the possibility that they might spread a hitherto unknown virus which could seriously affect other (useful) insects....
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #3 on: 10:18:11, 13-10-2008 »
Quote from: Ron Dough on 10:13:30, 13-10-2008
On the other hand, they might discover something else they prefer more, such as oak trees or roses, for example, and leave the knotweed completely alone whilst attacking native species. There's also the possibility that they might spread a hitherto unknown virus which could seriously affect other (useful) insects....

Well yes, but as I said, Cabi tend to know what they're doing. They've been at this game for a long time and in many different countries. I rather suspect that most conceivable contingencies have been prepared for. I should state an interest here, in that Cabi employed me in their journals department for 6 months, which enabled me to become financially solvent again before my PhD.
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'is this all we can do?'
anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965)
http://www.myspace.com/itensemble
Milly Jones
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« Reply #4 on: 10:24:43, 13-10-2008 »
I'd be very wary about introducing another species that isn't idigenous to ourselves.  Who knows what might happen.  It might be like the grey squirrel/red squirrel scenario and they might completely alter the food chain.  It could have disastrous results if it went wrong.   
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #5 on: 10:46:45, 13-10-2008 »
For more information about CABi or Cabi or however they're branding themselves this month, see Wikipedia or their homepage.
If anyone wants chapter and verse on what controls are in place to stop these new bugs from taking over the world, I can probably find out.
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'is this all we can do?'
anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965)
http://www.myspace.com/itensemble
Jellybaby7
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« Reply #6 on: 13:23:27, 13-10-2008 »
"The nymphs are literally sucking the life out of the plant,"



        Nymphs and Shepherds

Nymphs and shepherds, come away.
In the groves let's sport and play,
For this is Flora's holiday,
Sacred to ease and happy love,
To dancing, to music and to poetry;
Your flocks may now securely rove
Whilst you express your jollity.
Nymphs and shepherds, come away....

Hmmmm?Huh
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IgnorantRockFan
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« Reply #7 on: 13:54:46, 13-10-2008 »
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Allegro, ma non tanto
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