Jeremy C. Andersen Details Fight Against Japanese Knotweed

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Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant species, has taken root across the country—including the Northeast—threatening not only manicured landscapes but also the integrity of home foundations. Introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s, this shrubby plant may be appreciated for its summer blooms, but beneath the surface lies a force of destruction.

The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, The Daily Mail, and other outlets have reported on the efforts of Jeremy C. Andersen, research assistant professor in the College of Natural Sciences's Department of Environmental Conservation, and his colleagues to reduce the spread of this invasive plant with the help of an insect:

"Researchers have discovered a particular kind of bug—Aphalara itadori—which is known to eat Japanese knotweed. In 2020, scientists from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst were allowed to release them and monitor their impacts, discovering that they are successfully making a dent in the giant knotweed population, although it’s unclear how the critter will affect Japanese knotweed. 'I’ve never been so excited to see a plant suffering before,' Jeremy Andersen, a research assistant professor who is part of the university’s team, told [The Wall Street Journal]. 'They looked like their life essence had been sucked out of them.'"

— The New York Post

Read more about Andersen's work with Japanese knotweed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, The Daily Mail, The U.S. Sun, and Yahoo!News.