The Molokai Crew at MoMISC has been working hard to continue their surveys for early detection species including little fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetle. Target species, rubbervine and Barbados gooseberry are on the brink of eradication with only seedlings found on recent visits.
Early Detection
- Wasmannia auropunctata (little fire ants): The crew conducted LFA surveys at various ports of entry including the Kamalō and Kaunakakai Harbor areas and the Pukoʻo beach access, a port of entry commonly used for inter-island commuting by resident boaters.
- Oryctes rhinoceros (coconut rhinoceros beetle): MoMISC crew actively monitors and maintains coconut rhinoceros beetle traps at the Hoʻolehua Airport. So far, so good! No beetles were captured in traps or reported by the public.
Priority Species-
- Prosopis juliflora (long thorn kiawe): The MoMISC crew has been actively controlling the long thorn kiawe population along the remote southwest coast of Molokai. With landowner consent, the crew was able to access existing control sites where they continue to find and control new growth.
- Cryptostegia Madagascariensis (rubbervine): Past and current efforts of aggressive survey and control of this species have been successful in managing and containing the spread. Crew frequently returns to past control sites to inspect for new growth and recently surveyed a swath of the southeast coastline for potential spread. In the second quarter of 2020, a total of 129 acres were surveyed and just 3 immature plants were found at an old control site!
- Cyathea Cooperi (Australian Tree Fern): In cooperation with DOFAW, the MoMISC crew surveyed 138 acres for ATF in the North Central forest area on Molokai, controlling a total of 79 ferns.
- Cassiopea Andromeda (Upside Down Jellyfish): This pest species is found at several sites along the south and south/east coast of Molokai. MoMISC routinely surveys and controls this stinging pest species at the Kaunakakai Harbor, an area of high recreational use by residents and a popular swimming area for kids. In the second quarter of 2020, 7 acres were surveyed and 31 jellyfish were controlled.
- Pereskia aculeata (Barbados gooseberry): The crew spent two days in Hālawa Valley revisiting control sites and surveying surrounding areas. This species appears to be under control with only one juvenile being found at an old site.
Learn more about the Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee on their website: molokaiisc.org.
September Updates on other species here:
Plant Crew – September 2020
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death response: In response to community reports, Mike Ade collected two samples for possible Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death: one ...
Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee -September 2020
Removing upside-down jellyfish from Kaunakakai harbor sometimes takes partners, as when DLNR divers helped out several years ago. The Molokai ...
Coqui Crew – September 2020
From July through September, the coqui crew worked throughout Haʻikū on populations of frogs near the Kauhikoa Reservoir, the Five ...
Community Coqui Control Progam – September 2020
All four of the Haʻikū neighborhoods involved in the MISC Community Coqui Control Program held work weeks during August. One ...
Early Detection, Outreach, and Education – September 2020
Early Detection:No news is good news, at least from the early detection team. Forest and Kim Starr surveyed the Kahului ...
Little Fire Ant Crew – September 2020
Little fire ants can climb and so can our crew. Paul Moneymaker scales a steep hillside while surveying for little ...
All Updates
