Active response updates

• Little Fire Ant (LFA): 
  • 2018 HAL Update
  • There is never a dull moment at the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL)! Between invasive ants, lava flows, and hurricanes, we are always being faced with new challenges in the battle against Little Fire Ants (LFA), because LFA can affect everyone. To assist in this battle, HAL is happy to announce our two new employees, Jack Fields in the Hilo Office and Matthew Sandrich in the Oahu Office. At the 2018 Hawaii Conservation Conference, our group was presented with the Conservation Innovation Award by Josh Atwood of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. 
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  • We have been working to improve the LFA rearing room housed at CTAHR Komohana. It may sound funny that we are actually trying to keep LFA alive, but these colonies are used for various experiments we conduct. One experiment we are currently working on is testing out OMRI Certified insecticides, such as products containing neem or spinosad, in the HAL Gel Bait Matrix for use on organic crops. Currently, there are no certified organic baiting options out there effective on LFA. If we do find one of these organic products to be effective, we would still need to run it through the permitting gamut, similar to what we did for the use of Tango or Provaunt in the HAL Gel Bait. This, unfortunately, takes time.
  • The USDA Farm Bill Grant targeting education for pesticide and nursery supply stores was a success. With this funding we were able to work with retailers throughout the Big Island to educate staff and customers on the most effective products to manage LFA. That way, consumers are not wasting their money on ineffective products or applying unnecessary amounts of pesticides into the environment. Next, we will be working on another USDA Farm Bill Grant targeting education for apiaries and tropical fruit growers to reduce the spread of LFA via movement of bee boxes.
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  • HAL is also dedicated to protecting our national parks. We have been working with both Hawaii Volcanoes and Kaloko-Honokohau National Parks to prevent the spread and manage existing infestations. At HVNP, there was damage to Highway 11 caused by the constant earthquakes we were experiencing, and the road was in need of repair. HAL coordinated with HDOT’s consultant, SSFM International, and park service to offer best management practices to mitigate the spread of LFA. At Kaloko-Honokohau, HAL continues to coordinate with HDOA and the park service providing hands on trainings for pesticide safety and proper treatment methods of LFA for this sensitive area with anchialine ponds.
  • If you find that you or your organization has an issue with invasive ants, please feel free to contact our lab at (808) 315-5656. We are here to assist with best management plans for any situation.
• Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB):
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  • Just because “Coconut” is in its name doesn’t mean that’s the only thing Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB) feed on. They are known to feed on other species of palms, plants, and food crops. On Oahu, feeding damage has been found on Fan, Date, and Royal or Queen Palms. Other than palms, damage has recently been confirmed on Hala (Pandanus sp.) in the Pearl City area. CRB have also been recorded to feed on crops such as taro, banana, papaya, cacao, pineapple, and sugarcane but damage has not yet been confirmed in Hawaii. Although CRB seem to have a high preference for the taste of coconut palms, it’s important to remember the other culturally significant plants and crops that are threatened by this species such as taro, hala, and native, endemic, and endangered species of Loulu palms. For more information or pictures, please contact the CRB Response at 679-5244 or BeetleBustersHI@gmail.com
• Rapid Ohia Death (ROD):
  • ROD Newsletter:  To view the current issue of the newsletter click the link as follows: http://mailchi.mp/e1ed2686c31b/rapid-hia-death-newsletter
    • To opt-in to receive future newsletters please click on link here: http://eepurl.com/cY7z0j
  • ROD Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RapidOhiaDeath/ 
  • Research Update: Through the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Seed Banking Initiative, UH Lyon Arboretum and Laukahi Hawaiʻi Plant Conservation Network are leading efforts to expand capacity for collection and banking of ʻōhiʻa seeds across all islands in response to the ROD crisis. Thanks to funding from Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority in 2017-2018, they held 15 workshops on 5 islands and trained 350 people how to collect ʻōhiʻa seeds! During that time, Lyon Arboretum banked 3.9 million ʻōhiʻa seeds in 165 new collections from 12 taxa of Metrosideros from Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Maui. This brings the total number of ʻōhiʻa seeds stored at Lyon to over 7 million! Their partner Hawaiʻi Island Seed Bank (Kona) also stored over 100 collections from Hawaiʻi Island varieties of ʻōhiʻa. Together, all the Hawaiʻi Seed Bank Partnership facilities banked over 11.5 million seeds from 440 trees across the state with funding from HTA in 2017-2018. The project continues and the partnership receives new seeds from trained collectors on a regular basis. They hope to offer more training workshops in the near future.
    • Learn more about the ROD Seed Banking Initiative and sign up for future workshops at ohialove.com.
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    • photo credit: Nate Yuen
  • Survey Update: As of May 2018, Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) was found in the Moloa‘a Forest Reserve on Kaua‘i. Of the two pathogens that cause ROD, the canker pathogen, Ceratocystis huliohia, was detected in 13 trees to date. Crews from the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, the Kaua‘I Invasive Species Committee, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden are currently working on delineating the boundaries of the detection site to gain insight into the extent of the outbreak. We encourage Kaua‘i residents and visitors to be extra cautious about proper decontamination of gear by brushing and spraying with 70% rubbing alcohol.
  • The Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Strategic Response Plan is available at www.rapidohiadeath.org

• Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
  • Please visit the link above for general information.
• Division Of Forestry And Wildlife (DOFAW)
  • Please visit the link above for general information. 
• Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
  • Please visit the link above for general information.
  • We have recently revised the Biosecurity Implementation Plan for the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve. This version includes the most complete biological inventory and island species lists, selected updated tables and figures and the reformatting of various sections for continuity. This version also aims to better align with the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan. Thanks again to HISC and the continued support.
    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/news/kirc-produces-first-ever-kahoolawe-biosecurity-plan/ 

• Please visit the link above for general information.

• Rapid Ohia Death (ROD)
  • ROD Reminder: Anyone on ROD-free islands (other than Hawai`i Island) with suspect trees should call their local Invasive Species Committee (see links below under University of Hawaii's Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit) so that any samples go through HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) and not through the regular post – More information can be found at www.rapidohiadeath.org.

• Mamalu Poepoe (Sphere of Protection) Project - Mamalu Poepoe is a project funded by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) for a period of 5 years. The program is being coordinated through the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) and aims at increasing surveillance of invasive species at six airport facilities on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii. The program targets Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), Africanized honeybees (AHB), ants and mosquitoes.
• The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is the lead agency for the work on ants, CRB and AHB and the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) is the lead agency for the work on mosquitoes. Mamalu Poepoe is partnering with the Invasive Species Committees (ISC’s) and the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) to conduct the monitoring activities. 

• College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR)
  • Dr. James Leary (UH-CTAHR) has been invited to speak at the upcoming UMISC/NAISMA Joint Conference in Rochester, MN Oct 14-17.  He will present on HISC-funded research in his seminar titled  "Protecting Hawaii’s Watersheds, One Incipient Miconia Plant at a Time with Extreme Prejudice" where scientists and practitioners in the Midwest will learn how Hawaii has more fun with AIS management.
• Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU)
  • Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
    • It's been a busy summer on the Big Island! Volcanoes, hurricanes, and giant bugs - oh my!
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    • BIISC staff controlled miles of invasive albizia trees along the main thoroughfare leading to the "Saddle" road, an important route connecting the east and west sides of the island. Albizia were also controlled in Puna along a main emergency egress for residents, made more critical now with the loss of several other routes due to lava inundation. The trees were all treated just in time for Lane, which dumped feet of rain onto the east side of the island!
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    • BIISC folks also helped spread the word about an Australian longhorn beetle attacking cacao and kukui, and assisted the East Hawaii Cacao Association in their efforts to collect specimens for USDA-APHIS work on pheromone attractants. Larvae of this Cerambycid species burrow through the tissues of trees as they develop, causing them to weaken and eventually collapse.  
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    • Finally, it was last call for pampas grass, as BIISC has entered the final stages of eradication of pampas from the island. All known individuals have been removed, and nearly a decade of return visits for keiki have turned up no new plants. We are engaging the public and our partners in scouring the island for any last remaining holdouts with an eye toward declaring this one gone by the end of 2018!
  • Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS)
    • As part of the ROD Outreach Working Group, CGAPS staff assisted with the Hawaii Island premieres of  "Saving ʻŌhiʻa – Hawaii’s Sacred Tree" along with organized cable broadcasts of the documentary to be aired by local television networks. The documentary is a HISC funded project.
    • CGAPS PIO helped to organize a seminar at the Hawaii Conservation Conference and a full-day workshop after the conference on social marketing techniques with presentations from leading experts in the field.
    • The 2018 third quarter CGAPS meeting was held early August. CGAPS meetings are held to facilitate communication and collaborative action on invasive species issues and are open to the public.
  • Hawaii Alien Plant Informatics (HAPI) Project 
    • This project is compiling and analyzing all available alien plant data in Hawai‘i to help inform management decisions.  Since February 2018 we’ve been working closely with the Bishop Museum to gain a finer understanding of where hundreds of introduced species fall on the naturalization spectrum.  We are still seeking input from anyone who uses or collects information on alien plants within the state, and are reaching out to anyone who is willing to give feedback.  Please follow this link to participate.  Mahalo to those who have agreed to share their data – we’ll be following up shortly!
  • Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment (HPWRA)
    • The HPWRA promotes responsible and informed planting choices by providing an objective, science-based and accurate method of assessing the invasive potential of plants being imported into and/or planted within the Hawaiian Islands. In the past two months, 20 new or revised assessments have been completed, bringing the latest total of screened plant species to 1965.
    • A revised edition of the book “Growing Plants for Hawaiian Lei”, now with HPWRA risk ratings, will soon be published. Plants rated high risk also include an alert as to their potential invasiveness and a link to plantpono.org (which is currently offline for redesign).  The revised book continues to acknowledge the popularity of certain high risk plants, but cautions people that these plants can become invasive if brought to new areas.
    • Work on the new Plant Pono website continues. In the interim, a list of all assessments completed to date, and links to individual assessments, can be accessed at hpwra.org
  • Kaua`i Invasive Species Committee (KISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
    • Despite heavy rains and flooding, the KISC crew continued regular survey and control efforts for miconia, little fire ants, ivy gourd, false kava, and long-thorn kiawe. 
    • KISC responded to several reports of suspected coqui frog sightings. One frog was was captured and removed, in partnership with HDOA, and was determined to be a lone introduction via recently imported landscaping plants.  
    • KISC continues to field enquiries from the public regarding ohia trees suspected of ROD infection, but to date all samples outside the original affected area have been negative.  We continue to collaborate with ROD Working Group members to delimit the extent of the disease on Kauai.
    • KISC outreach booths and activities at the Banana Poka Festival, Agriculture Awareness Day, and the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair have collectively reached over 1200 community members to share biosecurity-related information and education.
    • Two staff members attended drone training on Oahu as part of studies toward drone pilot licensing.  
    • Field Operations Supervisor Ray Kahaunaele completed a two-week training in Guam on brown tree snake rapid response. 
  • Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
  • Molokai-Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
  • O`ahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) 
    • For more information about OISC targets, please visit: www.oahuisc.org.

    • Miconia (Miconia calvescens): OISC crews surveyed 847 ground acres and 1,154 aerial acres in seven watersheds removing a total of 289 miconia plants, including 1 mature miconia tree found in the Nu‘uanu watershed.

      

      Photo: OISC rappel team descends into a gulch to remove immature miconia.
      
      Devil Weed (Chromolaena odorata): 593 acres were surveyed and 1,266 plants were removed. Partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct early detection survey at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge since they are within dispersal distance of historical points. Happily nothing was found.

      Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD): Early detection surveys continue and all samples collected have been negative for fungus that causes the ROD disease.

      Outreach: Reached ~850 people through the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair, Lyon Arboretum Centennial Celebration, the Hawai‘i Environmental Education Alliance Symposium, and the 2018 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference. Outreach staff presented invasive species information to 160 children in the Summer Fun Program at Kāne‘ohe District Park and ~60 people at the Mānoa and Waimānalo Neighborhood Board Meetings. Engaged with over 1,500 people through website and social media.

• 643pest.org (Jun-Aug 2018) 
  The statewide online pest reporting system answered 114 pest reports from June-August 2018. Of these reports, 93 of the reported species were identified and 25 were forwarded to agencies for response. Reports by island: Hawaii-28. Maui- 26, Oahu- 51, Kauai- 5. There were 21 reports of stinging ants. We are mailing little fire ant test kits with pest report tracking numbers to persons reporting stinging ants, with the hopes of increasing community-wide sampling, as well as improving multi-agency communication of sample identification. 
• The HISC Brownbag series continues! Check the link in the Upcoming Events section below for the next presentation date & topic.
• The HISC Facebook page now has over 800 followers. Please Like & Follow HISC on Facebook to receive updates from HISC news, posts from our website, and invasive species-related posts from our constituent agencies and partners.
• Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC)
  • Please visit the link above for general information.

Upcoming events

• HISC Brownbag: Stay Tuned for the next Brownbag presentation and see past presentations here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/category/brownbag/