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<p>Following rigorous laboratory testing which identified the psyllid <em>Aphalara
itadori</em> as a suitable biocontrol agent for Japanese knotweed, it was released
under licence to two sites in spring 2010, subject to a programme of close monitoring.
After reviewing the data collected, the Food and Environment Research Agency, as the
licensing authority, approved releases in spring 2011 to seven sites in England and
one site in Wales.</p><p>The psyllid has successfully overwintered since then, but
numbers have remained low so additional releases were made at the sites in spring
of 2012, 2013 and 2014 to boost numbers with the aim of achieving establishment. This
rate of progress is not unexpected. The sites continue to be closely monitored.</p><p>This
was the first intentional release of a non-native organism to control an invasive
plant in Europe. Other classical biocontrol programmes from around the world have
taken five to ten years from release to achieve successful biological control.</p><p>
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