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Kudzu, a green leafy vine native to China and Japan brought here in the 19th century, has long been cursed by farmers and timber producers for the property and crop damage it can cause.
Now, another Asian import — bean plataspids — has emerged. And it munches on the fast-growing kudzu.
The dark green insects are spreading across the South and causing some debate over whether that's good news or bad, as some people see kudzu as a valued part of the landscape.
Kudzu-eating bugs: Good news or bad?
Seeded on Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:53 AM EDT
Article Source: USA Today
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Sounds like good news to me!
- 2 votes
#1 - Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:53 AM EDTI don't know about that. Kudzu makes for some very interesting landscapes. And if those bugs manage to consume all that kudzu and don't die, whatever they are eating then is doomed.
- 2 votes
You may be right, it seems when we mess with nature sometimes things go wrong... But I think there may be enough kudzu around to keep them busy for a very long time.
- 2 votes
When I was young I met one of the botanists who helped import and encourage Kudzu for erosion control. He was retired but had a marvelous greenhouse with amazing plants from pretty much everywhere.
He had a "pet" Kudzu vine in the greenhouse. The growing end of the vine made a turn around a 1.5 inch diameter pipe every 45 minutes. You could sit and WATCH IT GROW. Truly scary.
- 4 votes
and when the kudzu is all gone what do they munch on next....
- 3 votes
#2 - Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:45 AM EDTand when the kudzu is all gone what do they munch on next....
Gardner says:
The Asian bugs also bring their own headaches. They're known to dine on soybean and peanut plants, which could cause other troubles for farmers, Gardner says.
There was an old woman who swallowed a cow,
I don't know how she swallowed a cow!
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat,
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old woman who swallowed a horse,
She's dead—of course!
Kudzu-eating bugs: Good news or bad? Bad news.
- 2 votes
They're known to dine on soybean and peanut plants,
That doesn't sound so good does it. thanks for pointing that out.
- 3 votes
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