Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

DONATE TODAY

  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Steering Committee
    • What We Do
  • Invasive Plants
    • No Grow! plants
    • Backyard Pests
    • Plant Control
  • Invasive Pests
    • Insects
    • Animal Pests
    • Diseases
  • Community Programs
    • Albizia Program
    • Little Fire Ant Community Support Program
    • Education
  • Blog
slide 1
slide 1
slide 1
slide 1
slide 1
biisc is hiring
Image Slide 2
We work to address invasive species issues across Hawaiʻi Island. Meet Our Team
Image Slide 2
BIISC works hard to eradicate new invasive plant species and to contain other widespread invaders, like albizia. Learn More
Image Slide 2
Invasive insects, animals, and diseases threaten Hawaiʻi’s environment, economy, human health, and our way of life. Learn More
Image Slide 2
BIISC works on many different projects, from community empowerment, plant eradication, early detection, to public education. Learn More
Image Slide 2
Choose an ʻāina-friendly tree for the holidays! More
BIISC is Hiring!
BIISC is hiring! Read more
previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow

We are the Big Island Invasive Species Committee

Our mission is to prevent, detect, and control the establishment and spread of invasive species threats to our environment, economy, and way of life. We work island-wide protecting our native forests, communities, and agriculture from new and ongoing threats.

Little Fire Ant Program- BIISC

Learn the research-based strategies for treating LFA

Our team brings information sessions and hands-on training to communities around the island.

Little Fire Ant Program
Plant Pono Program BIISC

Make good planting decisions for our ‛āina

We endorse and promote businesses that voluntarily act to protect their business and their community from the threat of invasive species.

Plant Pono Program
Albizia Program BIISC

Address albizia in your neighborhood

Learn how to deal with trees on your own property and throughout your community – safely and effectively.

Albizia Program

Invasive Species in Hawai‛i

Invasive species have a two-part definition: first, they must have been introduced to an area, arriving through human intervention (unlike native species, which arrived on their own via wind, wings, or waves). However, the introduction alone does not mean a species is invasive. Many introduced species can have deep importance for us: they may be culturally important plants such as ti leaf or kalo, key agricultural crops like mac nuts and coffee, beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, or simply beloved for their beauty, like bird-of-paradise. Although none of these species are biologically native to the islands, they have become a critical part of the Hawaiian landscape and the human relationships with the natural environment of our islands.

Read More

Featured Blog Posts

  • HISAM 2023
    February 2, 2023
    February is Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month! The theme for this year is Mythbusters! There are so many misconceptions about...
  • What's that bug in my garden?
    January 31, 2023
    It's a sweet potato bug. Throughout the late winter and early spring, you may notice an odd-looking bug in your garden....
  • biisc crew
    BIISC is Hiring! - Field Crew Leader
    December 16, 2022
    Invasive Species Field Crew Leader Crew: Invasive Plant Eradication Application deadline: February 23, 2023 We are looking for an individual with good...
  • ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest 2022
    October 27, 2022
    Join us as we celebrate our love for ʻōhiʻa and Hawaiʻi's unique forest ecosystems. The theme of this year's festivities...
  • Stop the Ant Month 2022: Battling Invasive Ants in Hawai'i
    October 6, 2022
    Ants in Hawaiʻi As the most isolated island chain on Earth, for most of its existence Hawaiʻi was too distant for...
  • Ramie moth
    Ramie Moth
    March 13, 2021
    The ramie moth is a destructive caterpillar that can completely defoliate native māmaki. This caterpillar was first discovered in November...
  • Phenax leaves and growth pattern
    Mystery Invader Identified: Phenax hirtus
    March 12, 2021
    A critical part of the work we do at BIISC is looking for new, potentially damaging, arrivals, In late 2017,...
  • pampas grass removal
    Pampas Grass Eradicated
    September 23, 2020
    BIISC is happy to share some good news: one of the most notorious invasive grasses in Hawai‛i, pampas grass, has...
  • Pest Alert: Banana Lacewing
    September 21, 2020
    The Hawai‛i Dept. of Agriculture has announced a new pest called the Banana Lacewing Bug (Stephanitis typica). This pest has...
  • qlb larva
    How did QLB get here?
    May 20, 2020
    In August 2019, a resident from Puna submitted logs to the state Department of Agriculture office in Hilo. Those logs...
  • Alert: New Pest Attacking Avocado
    February 11, 2020
    In February 2020, the Hawai‛i Department of Agriculture announced that the avocado lace bug has been reported on Hawai‛i Island. ...
  • Semi-Slug Found in Kohala
    February 5, 2019
    Staff from the University of Hawai‛i-Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) confirmed a collection of Parmarion martensi, an...
  • LFA on Tango gel bait
    Hawai‛i County Residents: Join us in fighting fire ants!
    September 22, 2016
    Multiple training and education programs are being offered to assist Big Island communities in control of little fire ants. In May 2016, BIISC...
Filter - All
Go to Blog

Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-3340

  

biisc@hawaii.edu

Sign Up to Receive Updates

Sign Up!