Active response updates

• Little Fire Ant (LFA): 
  • The Hawaii Ant Lab received the 2018 Conservation Innovation Award from the Hawaii Conservation Alliance for their game-changing solutions for addressing little fire ant infestations. Read the news release here.
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  • Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) has participated once again in a successful Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant Month! Here on the Big Island, we partnered up with BIISC to give several radio interviews, as well as generated some eye catching magnets (illustrated by Jade Miyashiro, as seen below) to give out at several events during the month of October. We have also placed Stop the Ant sponsored survey kits and HAL brochures at libraries throughout the island to help increase detection in areas less familiar with the impacts LFA cause. 
    There was also a big push to generate more traffic to the Stop the Ant website http://stoptheant.org/  and to increase likes and followers on the FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/StopTheAnt/   This was done through posting articles on the site and several FB posts to keep the page and website updated and relevant. These places are great one stop shops for updates on LFA throughout the State, finding local resources, and information on detection and treatment, so please visit, like and share!! 
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  • 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):
  • On October 20, 2018, a  community bug hunt took place at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center. The Halloween-themed awareness event focused on two invasive species- the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and the Little Fire Ant. At the event, participants learned how they can identify these species, how to recognize damage, what to do when they find them, and ways to get rid of them. They also learned some gardening and sustainability techniques in a fun and interactive way. Participants came dressed in costumes, touched live bugs, dug for beetle larvae, tested for Little Fire Ants, sampled coconut products, made arts and crafts, and listened to spooky bug stories. At nightfall, participants went bug hunting
    through the haunted garden. This event was hosted by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response, Malama Learning Center, University of Hawai`i (CTAHR), and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee. Other sponsors and volunteers included the Master Gardeners program, Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, Paradise Beverages, Island Olive Oil Company, Aloun Farms, and Kapolei High School. The CRB Response intends to hold events similar to this in the future.
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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):
  • 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. After aerial surveys of Kauai Island have been completed, there are other areas on island that are showing symptomatic trees. Crews have been continuing aerial surveys, via drones and helicopters, and on the ground sampling to find the extent of the infestation sites. We encourage Kaua‘i residents and visitors to be extra cautious about proper decontamination of gear by brushing and spraying with 70% rubbing alcohol.
  • Pūlama Lāna‘i has ramped up efforts to collect ʻōhiʻa seeds for the #OhiaLove project. Kari Bogner, the botany program manager for Pūlama Lāna‘i, has been spearheading field collections. So far, she and others from the company’s natural resources department have collected seeds from over 30 individuals. We hope to collect from many more ʻōhiʻa trees in the next couple of years representing different species and varieties of ʻōhiʻa. The seeds are being banked at Lyon Arboretum and Maui Nui Botanical Garden (MNBG). Seeds from several of the collections are being germinated at the company’s conservation nursery and will be used for restoration efforts on island. Additional seedlings from germination trials at MNBG will also be used on island for restoration purposes.
  • Upcoming Events:
    • Biosanitation Training for Tour Operators
      Do you manage or work for a company that leads visitors on land-based tours in Hawaiʻi? Do you want to stand out as an active protector of Hawaiʻi's natural resources? If so, then you won't want to miss out on a FREE  for terrestrial   being offered this fall! This team-taught  brings expertise together from your local Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Committees and the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Team. The course covers best  practices for your  operation so that your guides and guests can feel confident about minimizing impact to our unique native landscapes. Each participating business will receive a FREE LARGE KIT to kick-start or complement your  operations. Choose from five dates offered on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. Register today at rapidohiadeath.org! Questions may be directed to ohialove@hawaii.edu.
  • 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: 
    • 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: 
  • 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. 
  • The Lehua Island Ecosystem Restoration Project continues to note improvements to the island's ecosystem a year after an attempt to remove rodents using an island-wide application of a rodenticide. A few remaining rats have been detected on cameras over the past year, most recently a single rat was detected on motion cameras during a survey in October 2018. Teams are responding with additional bait stations and an ongoing trapping effort. Anecdotally field crews have noticed increases in bird populations and in vegetation on the island relative to the same time period last year.
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  • The DOFAW Invasive Species section produced a flyer for pet stores detailing the importance of not releasing pets into the wild. In particular, the flyer explains that some pets are designated as "injurious wildlife" under state law, and such species cannot be released, transported to areas where they are not already established in the wild, or exported from the state. The flyer is online here and can be found in pet stores across Oahu.
• Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
  • Please visit the link above for general information.

• Please visit the link above for general information.
• Hawaii Tribune-Herald: A boa constrictor was reported and picked up by Hawaii Island Humane Society animal control officers in Keaau and turned over to the HDOA in Hilo.

• 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)
• Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU)
  • Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
  • Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
    • A State rule that would restrict the importation of plants in the Myrtaceae family into Hawaii passed through the Small Business Regulatory Review Board in September. This rule will help protect native Myrtle species like ohia from harmful pathogens that are carried on non-native Myrtaceae species. This was the first step in the public hearing process. CGAPS helped to gather scientific information, inform stakeholders, and update draft language for the rule.
    • CGAPS PIO and DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) staff travelled to California to participate in testing for in-water cleaning technologies that address vessel hull-fouling.
    • CGAPS staff and Shahin Ansari from H.T. Harvey and Associates presented at the HISC Brown Bag and LICH conference in October on the progress made to create State Restricted Plant Rules and a list of plants. These rules would restrict the importation of all plants placed on the restricted list unless by permit. You can view the presentation here: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/slider/preventing-future-invasive-plant-introductions-with-a-state-restricted-plant-list/.
  • 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, 12 new and 4 revised assessments have been completed, bringing the latest total of screened plant species to 1978.
    • Training for the 2019 East Hawaii Master Gardener program has been scheduled for January 30, 2019. Presentations on native plants, invasive plants, and the weed risk assessment system will be given to the 2019 master gardener trainees.
    • Collaborative work on the new Plant Pono website is ongoing with BIISC and HBIN staff, and Websites with Aloha. In the interim, a list of all assessments completed to date, and links to individual assessments, can be accessed at hpwra.org
      • All Assessments to Date: Spreadsheet
      • All Assessments to Date: pdf
  • Kaua`i Invasive Species Committee (KISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
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    • KISC received several calls from residents reporting suspected coqui frogs in the Kapahi area during September.  Our crew responded and confirmed the coqui presence.  Crews subsequently succeeded in capturing four frogs, in partnership with HDOA, and we continue to monitor the area closely.  Community vigilance and support have been invaluable, especially the prompt alerts and reports sent in.
    • During Little Fire Ant Awareness Month in October, KISC launched a Stop the Ant! Kauai Citizen Science Project with area schools, involving sample collection, online data reporting, and presentations from KISC staff.   To date 217 students have participated and 632 samples have been collected.  Kauai’s LFA outreach campaign during October additionally included radio, print, and social media communications; testing kits distributed through libraries, veterinary clinics, and the Humane Society; and presentations and displays at several local community events.
  • Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)
    • Please visit the link above for general information.
    • The coqui crew has grown, despite some attrition as summer hires returned to school, and now stands at 8 full-time and 4 part-time. Allison Smith has joined the team as the community engagement liaison working with residents in infested areas to support their efforts to control coqui.
    • One of the plant crew based in Hana, Joe Brower, is now working on little fire ants, following up on reports throughout remote east Maui and addressing the Kaeleku and Nahiku infestation. During recent surveys at sites in the monitoring phase – located in Kapalua, Waihee, a South Maui nursery, and Haiku—crew did not detect any little fire ants. The infestation in Huelo has been greatly reduced with only a few ants detected.
    • Between great weather and enthusiastic helicopter pilots, MISC crews did extensive surveys of West Maui looking for pampas grass. The intensive coverage led to the detection of several new infestations.
    • MISC staff participated in the Maui County Fair, discussing the impacts of our target species over 4 days. Another activity of note was offering and conducting 2 Maui Mauka Conservation Awareness Trainings for tour guides alongside  East Maui Watershed Partnership and Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. We also participated in the little fire ant awareness month and all libraries on Maui handed out little fire ant test kits.
  • 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.

• Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC)
  • Please visit the link above for general information.
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• Governor David Y. Ige is the chair of the Western Governors' Association this year and has launched a Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative. To date the initiative has produced a list of top invasive species in the West, started an initiative to standardize and share data among states, and sparked discussion through a series of workshops across western states. Representatives from Hawaii will attend a Nov 14 workshop in Helena MT, and Hawaii will host the final workshop in the series in Kona on Dec 11. Interested parties can register for the Kona workshop here.
• The HISC Facebook page now has over 815 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.
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• The HISC was invited by Olelo to produce a Public Service Announcement on invasive species as part of their effort to share messages of government entities and non-profits. HISC's PSA is online here and encourages residents of Hawaii to avoid packing pests when they travel interisland or enter into Hawaii's forests, and to report invasive species sightings to 643pest.org, the 643-PEST app, or the 643-PEST (7378) telephone hotline.
  • The statewide online pest reporting system answered 40 pest reports in October 2018. Of these reports, 13 were forwarded to agencies for response. Reports by island: Hawaii- 9, Maui- 3, Oahu- 26, Kauai- 2. There were 9 reports of stinging ants and two little fire ant test kits requested and mailed. 
  • House Spider detection, Pearl Harbor area, Oahu:
    Be on the lookout for these new spiders to Hawaii. Members of the crevice weave spider family (Filistatidae), the southern house spider (Kukulcnaia sp.) grows around 2 inches across, including leg span. Please report any sightings. Assist documenting this spider in Hawaii by collecting a voucher specimen stored in alcohol and officially contribute to distribution knowledge.  
  • See below for information on the next HISC Brown Bag to learn all about 643pest.org!
• The HISC Brown Bag series continues! Check the link in the Upcoming Events section below for the next presentation dates & topics.

Upcoming events

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

  • HISC Brown Bag 19: Albizia

    Tuesday, December 11, 2018

    12:05 pm  |  Hawaii Time (Honolulu, GMT-10:00)  |  1 hr

    Meeting number: 812 305 727

    Meeting password: H!$Cbb19

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  • HISC Brown Bag 20: 643pest.org

    Thursday, December 13, 2018

    12:05 pm  |  Hawaii Time (Honolulu, GMT-10:00)  |  1 hr

    Meeting number: 813 944 297

    Meeting password: H!$Cbb20

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