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Page last updated at 13:42 GMT, Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Insect that fights Japanese knotweed to be released

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A plant-eating predator that preys on aggressive superweed Japanese knotweed is to be given a trial release in England.

Since Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK it has rapidly spread, and the plant currently costs over £150m a year to control and clear.

This is the first time that biocontrol - the use of a "natural predator" to control a pest - has been used in the EU to fight a weed.

Sarah Mukherjee reports.

READ MORE: Superweed predator to be released

SEE ALSO

Garden invaders: Japanese knotweed(01.17)
How predator feasts on superweed(00.48)

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