Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

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Look-a-Like Longhorns

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Jade Miyashiro

Longhorn beetles are a very large family of insects (Cerambycidae) with over 26,000 species!  While they can vary greatly in size, color, and shape, they share some distinctive common traits: they are wood-boring insects, with extra  long antennae. Unlike some other beetles, longhorns have antennae that are as long or longer than the length of their bodies! This guide will help you identify the most commonly seen longhorns of Hawai’i island.

The Queensland Longhorn beetle is a pest of numerous trees including cacao, avocado, citrus, kukui, and more. QLB is rather large, sometimes more than 1.5 inches long (not including antenna). They are solid brown with a velvety appearance. Their most telling feature is the pair of large spines on their thorax (the body segment behind the head). This picture shows that their size does vary a bit, but even the smaller ones are generally still larger than the majority of the other longhorns you might encounter in Hawaii.

The plumeria borer (also known as the plumeria stem borer), is a pest to plumeria, burrowing into the tree and damaging or killing branches. It has also been know to use cacao or kukui as a host plant (similar to QLB). This beetle is the stockiest of the longhorn beetles in this guide, although only about a half-inch long. They have a mottled brown color, and upon close inspection you can spot tiny spines on the thorax.

The lantana longhorn is a “helper” because it feeds on the lantana plant, which is toxic to people and livestock. They were released as a biocontrol to help control lantana in Hawaii’s pastures. P. spinipennis are about 1 inch long, mostly brown, and have a pair of spines on thorax. The easiest way to ID a lantana longhorn is through the four white markings on its back.

Cercium unicolor doesn’t have a common name. It’s one of the smaller longhorns, reaching only about 1/2 inch long. They are solid brown and look “fuzzy,” with no markings or spines. They bore into a variety of host plants, but are not known to be a major pest in Hawaii.

The monkeypod round headed borer is a pest to monkeypod trees. They are about 1 inch long. Their head and thorax is a dark brown and their back is a lighter shade with two symmetrical black lines. Their thorax is rounded with no spines.

The eucalyptus longhorned borer is a pest to eucalyptus trees. They are about 1 inch long with a black body and brown legs, and distinctive brown markings on their back. Unlike the other longhorns, each antenna segment has a spike on the side.

Unlike the other longhorn listed here, the koa longhorn beetle is native to Hawaii! They are slightly larger than the QLB, making them the giants of this guide. They are black or dark brown with no colored markings or spines. Their wings are leathery and veiny-looking. They are sometimes mistaken for a B-52 cockroach, especially in flight. They are most likely to be found in areas with populations of koa trees nearby.

Filed Under: News, Pests, Slider

Ramie Moth

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Jade Miyashiro

Ramie Moth (Arcte coerula)

 

The ramie moth is a destructive caterpillar that can completely defoliate native mamaki. This caterpillar was first discovered in November 2018 on Maui where it was destroying mamaki plants. Since then, it has spread to the Big Island and found on the east side in November 2020. This is the first record of this pest being found in the United States.

It’s known to feed on members of the nettle family (Urticaceae). Besides harming the mamaki plant, this caterpillar also poses a threat to the native Kamehameha butterfly as it competes for the same food resources.

The young ramie caterpillar will start by chewing holes in the middle of the leaf and create even larger gaps as they grow, leaving only the main veins. Kamehameha caterpillars start eating from the edge of the leaves. Young Kamehameha caterpillars will fold over the edges of the leaf to make a tent for protection.

Appearance

Ramie moth (RM) eggs are about 1mm in diameter and are a clear-white color. The eggs are laid individually on the underside of leaves.  Kamehameha butterfly (KB) eggs are more brownish in color. The first instar of RM caterpillars are green and black. As they get larger, they change color to become yellow and black with red/orange spots and thin white hairs. There is also a black variant of the RM caterpillar, but it still has the iconic red spots and white hairs. The RM caterpillar can look very similar to the KB caterpillar and they are found on the same plants, so it is important to make a positive identification before taking any action! Young KB caterpillars also have black heads, but they turn green or brown as they get older.

Unlike KB caterpillars, the ramie caterpillars are aggressive…at least, relatively aggressive for a caterpillar! When disturbed the caterpillar may lift its head and start wiggling around, and might even vomit a green fluid. These actions are to dissuade predators, but are not displayed by KB caterpillars.

They can be challenging to identify, so please send a picture of your suspect caterpillar to BIISC or your local HDOA or CTAHR office for identification.

Photo of Kamehameha caterpillar by Forest and Kim Starr

The adult ramie moth is about 3 cm long with a 6-9 cm wingspan. It is mostly brown, with black markings on the scalloped wings. Hindwings have silvery-blue markings.

Be careful when moving mamaki and olona plants, and don’t move them interisland. Inspect your plants before moving them.

If you see this caterpillar, capture it and report it through 643-pest.org.

Ramie Moth HDOA Pest Report w/ pictures

How to ID a Kamehameha Butterfly

Filed Under: News, Slider Tagged With: caterpillar, hawaii pest, invasive species

HISAM “Worst Invasive” Chosen

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Jade Miyashiro

A “winner” has been declared: Rapid Ohi’a Death was chosen by our residents as the worst invasive species on Hawai’i Island. Thanks to all who participated and shared their views on the worst of the worst!

The Big Island has a large number of invasive species, but which is the worst? February is Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness month, and BIISC is participating by raising awareness about the many invasives that plague Hawaii and the harm they cause to our environment, our economy, and/or our health and way of life. Check out the full schedule of HISAM events this month.

So this month, to bring more attention to this issue, we want to hear from you: which is the worst invasive species on the Big Island? We’ve put together brackets of some of contenders in four categories: vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, pathogens.  We hope you will learn a bit more about the impacts these invasive species have on our island throughout the month. Visit our Facebook  page or Instagram story every week to cast your votes and see who moves up to the next bracket!

The Contenders

 

Vertebrates

Rats

Like all of our vertebrate contenders, rats have been designated one of the 100 World’s Worst invasive species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They multiply quickly, spread diseases, attack native wildlife, and are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Rats cause headaches and heartaches for conservationists, farmers, public health practitioners – and just about every human on the planet who has tried to grow or store food. As one of the first introduced species to Hawaii to become invasive, rats continue to plague our islands in many ways. More info…

Feral Pigs

In Hawaii and across the globe, feral pigs are infamous for their destructive behaviors. They root up plants and trees, destroying native ecosystems and overturning the work of farmers and foresters. Their digging and wallowing lead to puddles which provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread disease deadly to our native birds (see below). With no natural predators, the population is continuing to climb on our island, causing problems for residents of the human, plant, and bird kinds alike.

Coqui

Coqui frogs are known for their extremely loud mating calls that can reach 100 decibels (louder than power tools), and since their arrival on an imported nursery plant in the 1990’s, the night soundscape of our island will never be the same.  With no natural predators in Hawaii, populations here can reach approximately 2,000 frogs per acre, much higher than in their native range of Puerto Rico. And all those frogs have to eat, impacting insect species and out competing native insectivores. More info…

Feral Cats

While cats are a beloved part of many homes, when let loose into a natural environment, they are formidable predators with voracious appetites. World wide, they are known to decimate bird populations and in the Hawaiian islands have been actively observed killing native birds, from endangered honeycreepers in high elevation forests to nesting migratory seabirds. They are carriers of the toxoplasmosis parasite, which has been linked to death in multiple endangered Hawaiian monk seal.  More info…

Invertebrates

Little Fire Ants

Native to the jungles of South America and introduced by way of palm trees imported from Florida in the 1990s, little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) are notorious for their painful sting. They fall on unexpecting people and animals that disturb the tree that they’re barely clinging to, and disrupt farming by stinging workers and facilitating the increase of plant pests like aphids and mealy bugs. To make things even worse, they can number in the millions. With these vast numbers, they can easily push out other species in insects, including beneficials and natives. More info…

Two Lined Spittle Bug

First found on the Big Island in 2016 and likely introduced accidentally in live plants, this tiny bug is a huge threat to our ranching industry as well as our food security. TLSB (Prosapia bicincta) has already destroyed 175,000 acres of kikuyu and pangola, grasses that support 70% of the cattle industry in Hawaii. When these grasses die, they are replaced not by native species, but by much harder to control invasive weeds like blackberry and pamakani, which can also increase propagule pressure on neighboring native forests.  More info…

Mosquito

Mosquitos (multiple species) are a vector of many human pathogens such as dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, west nile virus, and more. They breed quickly as long as there is a little bit of standing water. Besides being a pest and a danger to humans, these insects are also the reason many of Hawaii’s native birds are now extinct. More info…

Queensland Longhorn Beetle

The Queensland longhorn beetle (Acalolepta aesthetica) is a recent introduction to the Big Island that is causing big problem for farmers in the Puna and South Hilo areas. The grubs live within the tree creating galleries eating away at the inside of the tree. Not much is known about this beetle and its host list is still growing: cacao, ulu, avocado, citrus, kukui are among some of its favorite targets, along with many others. As it is not known to be a pest anywhere else in the world, very little is known about it and there are no treatments for control. More info…

Plants

Albizia (Falcataria moluccana)

Introduced in 1917 to ‘fix’ the watershed, albizia quickly became a dangerous invasive species. At 10 feet growth a year, It is the fastest-growing tree on the planet, but only in Hawaii. Albizia grown in Florida or California, or Australia will not reach the heights we experience on the islands. The giant trees produce brittle branches that easily break, directly threatening homes, cars, roadways, and the power grid. The Department of Transportation estimates that 90% of all received calls about fallen trees are for albizia. The windblown albizia are constantly creeping into our properties, sometimes from nearby lots with absentee owners. More info…

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)

Fountain grass was introduced sometime before 1914 as a horticultural plant. Now it threatens the rarest forest type on Earth, the tropical dry forest. A seed packet from the 1900’s boasts, ‘Once established, this ornamental grass is maintenance-free.’ Fountain grass is an aggressive invader forming monotypic stands in the state’s driest parts, where it poses a significant fire hazard for natural and developed areas. Burning facilitates fountain grass seed germination, and the grass recovers much faster than other species after fires, creating a vicious cycle. North Kona is forever changed due to the drought-tolerant fountain grass. Mountainsides that once were covered in a diverse array of dry forest species, especially prominent was the yellow-colored hala pepe (Chrysodracon hawaiiensis) flowers, are now replaced with pure fountain grass stands. Bare lava flows are quickly colonized and dominated by fountain grass, leaving no room for native dryland species. More info…

Christmasberry (Schinus terebinthifolius) 

Introduced to Hawaii in 1911 as an ornamental tree, Christmasberry invades and dominates the island’s mesic and dry parts. Not only is it drought-tolerant, but Christmasberry also can withstand flooding conditions for up to 6 months. Birds, attracted to the bright red fruit, readily eat and disperse the copious amounts of seeds Christmasberry produces. With a densely shaded understory and allelopathic properties, monotypic stands are typical. Christmasberry is directly responsible for the low survival rates of several threatened native species. Christmasberry is a common pasture invader, degrading the quality and nutrition of grazing animals. Unripe fruits are fatal to horses, and cattle avoid the foliage.  The trunk exudes a sap that causes severe itching on bare skin, sometimes causing lesions that resemble 2nd-degree burns.  If inhaled, the chainsaw dust irritates the lungs. The flowers cause severe sneezing and allergic reactions to some. More info…

Koster’s Curse/Clidemia (Clidemia hirta)

It was first observed in Oahu growing in 1941; by 1949 is was spreading aggressively. Through muddy shoes, unwashed tools, or contaminated vehicles, people likely accidentally introduced Clidemia to the Big Island. Birds, pigs, and mongoose consume and distribute the seeds. Clidemia invades both disturbed areas and intact forests. Its invasive characteristics are astounding. It reaches reproductive maturity in 6 months, grows back vigorously after cutting, and has seeds can remain dormant for four years in the soil and are still viable. Its seed production is perhaps the most alarming. An average of 10,000,000 seeds can be found in a 1 square meter area of a clidemia thicket. Laid end to end, the tiny seeds would make a line 3.5 miles long. At peak fruiting season, clidemia produces 5,000 seeds per day. More info…

Pathogens and Disease

Rat Lung Worm

Slugs have always been an annoying garden pest. But with the introduction of the semi-slug in the late 90s, Hawaii Island experienced a rise in severe cases of Angiostrongyliasis, known as rat lungworm disease. The nematode worm that causes RLWD completes its life cycle by moving between slugs/snails and rats. But when other mammals like dogs, horses, or humans accidentally ingest an infected slug, the impacts on the body can be terrible, ranging from headaches and skin sensitivity to paralysis and even death in extreme cases. More info…

Rapid Ohia Death

Rapid ‘ohi’a death (ROD) is caused by two strains of the Ceratocystis fungi that block the cambium layer of the tree and stop the flow of water and nutrients. This blockage causes the tree to brown and die, and once the fungus has entered the tree, there is no cure. The spores of the fungus are spread by wind and by ambrosia beetles, tiny wood boring insects. ‘Ohi’a trees are a keystone species of native forests that are key for maintaining healthy watersheds, as well as an important plant in Hawaiian culture and key habitat for many native species of birds, insects, and plants.  The loss of ohi’a would be devastating to our islands. More info…

Coffee Rust 

Coffee is one of the major agricultural crops on the Big Island. This single plant generates over a million dollars every year. But in 2020, yet another threat to this beloved crop arrived in Hawaii. Coffee rust is a fungus that makes yellow-orange powdery spots on the leaves, reducing the rate of photosynthesis and the plants’ resources, therefore stunting growth and reducing berry production. This threat comes after growers have already spent the last decade fighting the coffee berry borer (CBB), a small beetle that burrows into the cherry, ruining the taste and quality of the coffee. Between these two pests coffee growers are struggling with poor yields and higher cost of production. More info on CLR… More about CBB here…

Avian Malaria/Avian Pox

Avian malaria and avian pox are two deadly diseases which have decimated Hawaii’s forest bird populations. Hawaii’s native birds evolved in isolation in their Pacific paradise, unexposed to these diseases and thus never developing resistance.  With the introduction of mosquitoes and non-native birds, these pathogens spread into our forests, and with the additional pressures of feral cats and rats, loss of habitat, and competition with non-native birds, many of Hawaii’s bird species were driven to extinction.  Of the 52 original native honeycreeper species, only 18 remain, and 6 are considered Critically Endangered.  Native birds must now live almost exclusively at high elevations above mosquito breeding areas, but as climate change increase temperatures that line is getting higher and the habitat smaller. More info…

Invasive Species Management

An invasive species is an organism that was introduced to a new area through human action (either accidentally or intentionally) AND also causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health in that area (as defined by federal law). Hawaii has half of the 100 worst invasive species in the world as identified by the IUCN, plus a whole lot more that are a particular problem for our tropical islands.  Many invasive species in Hawaii are so widespread that eradication is not possible, and they must be managed to mitigate damage as much as possible.  Others are new to the islands, and there is potential to eradicate (completely remove) them if we are able to get enough funding and resources. Some are widespread in certain areas but not others, so they may be contained with effort.  To learn more about how Hawaii is approaching the management of various invasives and working to prevent the introduction of new ones, visit the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.

Filed Under: News, Slider

BIISC is Hiring!

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Jade Miyashiro

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) is hiring an Invasive Species Field Associate! We are looking for an individual with good communication skills, eager to learn and be willing to work hard. Fieldwork involves reconnaissance, surveys, and mechanical/chemical removal of invasive alien species in natural, urban, and suburban areas. This job requires the ability to drive project vehicles both on and off road, work in and around helicopters, and handle pesticides. The ideal candidate will share our passion for conservation, love of the Big Island community, and commitment to public service.

A high school diploma/GED is required. Some knowledge of field activities relating to natural resources management. Able to identify common native Hawaiian plants and common introduced weed species. Good oral and written communication skills. Ability to read maps and aerial photographs and document work, and have basic computer skills.

Pay is $2,582/month with paid holidays, sick time, and benefits. This is a minimum salary; we anticipate offering a competitive salary based on the applicant’s experience.

TO APPLY: Please go to www.rcuh.com and click on “Job Postings.” Search for job number 221050.  You must submit the following documents online to be considered for the position: 1) Cover Letter, 2) Resume, 3) Salary History, 4) Supervisory References, 5) Copy of Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s). All online applications must be submitted/received by the closing date (11:59 P.M. Hawai‘i Standard Time/RCUH receipt time) as stated on the job posting. If you do not have access to our system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_employment@rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-8344 or (808)956-0872.

CLOSING DATE: February 12th, 2021

Filed Under: Education

I Spy: A Rabbit

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Jade Miyashiro

While they are cute and cuddly, rabbits can also be a pest. In other places of the world, rabbits are notorious for their destruction of gardens, ranches, farms, and native habitats. Allowing rabbits to create a stable wild population can quickly escalate into a wide range of problems for Hawaii.

When rabbits were first introduced to Australia in the 1850s, they quickly spread across the entire continent. The first introduction started with only 13 rabbits, but today Australia has a population of over 200 million rabbits. They were the cause of the extinction of many ground dwelling mammals and plants in Australia. Besides just destroying crops, rabbits ring trees and eat any seedlings trying to sprout, causing loss of vegetation and soil erosion.

While rabbits make cute pets, they become a huge nuisance when they are released into the wild. Since 2016, more and more rabbits are being sighted on Hawaii island  – and we’re asking all of our residents to keep an eye out and report loose rabbit sightings.

It is not illegal to keep a pet rabbit in Hawaii as long as it is done properly. By law, rabbits must be kept in a hutch raised above the ground. They are great escape artists so keeping them fenced in on the ground is not good enough. Failure to keep pet rabbits in a secure raised hutch can lead to a fine. If you no longer want your pet rabbit, do not release it: your local animal shelter will accept and rehome pet rabbits.

How to Keep Your Rabbit

Loose rabbit in Puna

Female rabbits can start reproducing at 3 months old and can have six litters a year with up to 8 kits (baby rabbits) per litter. That’s a lot of rabbits. It’s easy to see how the population can get out of control very quickly. Rabbits aren’t native to Hawaii and can add further pressure to our already threatened ecosystems along with becoming an agricultural pest.

Download an informational rack card on keeping rabbits.

Keep your rabbits contained properly and alert us to any loose rabbit sightings!! 

Contact BIISC at biisc@hawaii.edu or (808) 933-3340 to report a loose rabbit. (Be as precise as possible with location, please!) On other islands, report loose rabbits to 643pest.org.

Filed Under: News, Slider

October is Stop the Ant month in Hawaii!

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Jade Miyashiro

Big Island residents should check for ants 2-4x per year

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: LFA, little fire ants

Alert: New Lacewing Pest

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Jade Miyashiro

Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture has announced a new pest called the Banana Lacewing Bug (Stephanitis typica). This pest has a variety of hosts, not just banana. As of June 2020 this lacewing has only been found on Oahu. Please report any new sightings to Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture Plant Pest Control.

Hosts

  • African Oil Palm (Elaeis quineensis)
  • Bananas (Musa spp.)
  • Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
  • Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
  • Champedak (Artocarpus integer)
  • Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
  • Colocasia sp.
  • Edible Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
  • Flowers (Alpinia spp.)
  • Heliconia spp.
  • Plantain (Musa x paradisiaca)
  • Soursop (Annona muricata)
  • Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

 

HDOA Pest alert for lacewing bug

HDOA Pest alert for lacewing bug

 

 

Filed Under: News

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