A first for the EU - the use of an insect to control the spread of a weed.

From the BBC website 'A tiny Japanese insect that could help the fight against an aggressive superweed has been given the go-ahead for 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. But scientists say a natural predator in the weed's native home of Japan could also help to control it here. The insect will initially be released in a handful of sites this spring. 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.' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8555378.stm

I wonder how long it will take some parts of the media to warn of the dangers of releasing the small beasts...