Lissa Strohecker — Page 12 — Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

What’s that new black caterpillar?

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Secusio caterpillar eat fireweed and other invasive plants like Cape ivy, The Hawaii Department of Agriculture estimates it will take 8 caterpillars to kill one fireweed plant. Photo courtesy of HDOA.

A new fuzzy black caterpillar is starting to show up across Maui—a promising omen for cattlemen and conservationists alike. The caterpillar is the larva of the Secusio extensa moth, a biological control for firerweed released by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to control fireweed in March of 2013.

Diana Crow, a horticulturalist with ‘Ulupalakua Ranch, has been helping to raise and release Secusio moths on Maui. “For a while I wasn’t seeing them at all. Then things changed when the rains came. I started seeing them around lights. That was the first indication they were reproducing in the wild.”

Impacts on fireweed aren’t likely to come immediately. Established in the islands since at least the 1980s, fireweed now infests an estimated 850,000 acres statewide. According to Rob Curtiss, an entomologist with HDOA, it takes an average of eight caterpillars to kill one fireweed plant. “What will probably happen is that the population [of Secusio] will continue to grow and reach epidemic proportions, then we will see them start to defoliate fireweed.”

Fireweed, Senecio madagascarensis, is a highly invasive weed, toxic to many animals that blankets pastures on Maui and Big Island. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr.

Secusio may be getting some help from another unwelcome pasture pest; the caterpillars are capable of living off Cape ivy, a noxious weed related to fireweed, and containing the same toxic properties. “It’s inedible for livestock,” says Crow of the ivy. “We don’t want it. Plus it’s a threat to higher elevation native forest.”

The moth’s broad appetite isn’t a surprise to state agriculture officials. Before Secusio was released, entomologists reared the caterpillars in captivity to test what plants they would eat. Confined in cages with 88 different kinds of plants (71 of which were related to fireweed), they found it only ate 6 different species, including Cape ivy, and all were closely related to fireweed. Any plant it caused significant damage on is considered a weed in Hawai‘i.

Also known as German ivy, Cape ivy is extremely invasive. Introduced at the turn of the century to Kona, Cape ivy escaped cultivation and now threatens watersheds and native forests on the Big Island and Maui. It spreads quickly and once established can be extremely tenacious. Pat Bily of The Nature Conservancy has found several small populations in the Waikamoi preserve. Using herbicide to control a smothering vine would damage native vegetation so Bily removes plants by hand. Every leaf, stem, and root have to be removed or the plant resprouts; eradicating a handful of small populations is taking Bily years.

“Any feeding on Cape ivy, even if it was low, is a benefit,” explains Rob Curtiss. “Cape ivy certainly can be an alternate host. If populations of fireweed go down and there are populations of Cape ivy in the area, they will sustain a larger population of Secusio and we’ll get a better impact on fireweed.”

How do you know if you have them? The larval stage of Secusio is a fuzzy black caterpillar

The Secusio moth is about the size of an almond with mottling on the wings. The moth is nocturnal; turning off lights in the evening will encourage the moth to return to fireweed plants to lay eggs. Photo courtesy of HDOA

with an orange head and sometimes orange feet. It ranges in size from 1/8^th inch when young to just over 1 inch before pupating into a moth. The moth is beige with brown mottling on the wings and about the size of an almond.

Are other plants on the menu for the Secusio moth? Seeing the caterpillar on other plants doesn’t mean the caterpillar is feeding on them. According to Curtiss, most feeding happens at night. The caterpillars often leave the host plants during the day to avoid potential predation.

People may also see them when the caterpillars are looking for a place to pupate, preferring a dark place like a garage or shed. “If you see them, leave them alone or take them outside,” advises Curtiss. The moths are nocturnal and attracted to light so leaving outside lights on all night may keep them close to houses rather than seeking out fireweed in adjacent pastures.

For more information about the Secusio moth, visit the HDOA website: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/news-releases/2013-news-releases/biocontrol-moths-released-on-maui-to-fight-invasive-fireweed/

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, July 13th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

The little fire ant-bad news for food crops

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Liitle fire ant colony inside a macadamia nut

Little fire ants have many queens in the colony, and by moving a queen the population spreads to new areas. If you live in an area infested with little fire ant, don’t bring the pest to your new home. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

The little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, is a pest with a deservedly nasty reputation. Alone, this wee ant is neither aggressive nor impressive, but with her sisters, living in a network of colonies stretching from tree-top to ground, she has a dramatic impact. Once established, little fire ants are more than a pest, they will put the kibosh on agriculture. Little fire ants have already shut down fruit orchards in the Hilo area and their establishment threatens agriculture throughout the state.

Little fire ants do not compete between colonies; rather, they cooperate, blanketing the ground and trees and outcompeting other ant species for food and resources. Other insects and animals may also be pushed out and end up abandoning highly-infested areas to the little fire ant.

As little fire ants find homes in bananas, citrus, rambutan, and coffee trees, farmers faced with new difficulties in harvesting their crops. Because the ants don’t hold on well to branches, scads of tree-dwelling ants rain down on workers become trapped in their clothing, and sting in self-defense.

fungus on coffee infested with little fire ants

Stinging ants raining down upon harvesters is enough of an obstacle for coffee infested with little fire ant, but additionally, yields are reduced because little fire ants protect aphids that support plant disease, like this fungus. Photo by Cas Vanderwoude

In the Galapagos, little fire ants have made harvesting coffee one of the most difficult ways to earn a living; coffee harvesters now command a higher wage than other agricultural workers to compensate them for the aggravation. Increased costs affect farm profitability; in several areas of the Galapagos, coffee plantations lay abandoned because of the little fire ant. In Kona, the famed coffee-growing area, and elsewhere in the state, most coffee is harvested by hand. The spread of LFA into coffee plantations will be a huge blow to an industry already struggling to address the coffee borer beetle, another invasive pest that threatens the coffee industry as it reduces yields.

Little fire ants threaten more than just coffee. In Brazil and Cameroon, little fire ants infest cacao farms. In Puerto Rico, Florida and New Caledonia, little fire ants have overrun citrus

Cacao and other tree crops are particularly susceptible to little fire ant infestations. Photo used by permission from Cas Vanderwoude.

groves and in some areas practically blanket the ground.

The ants are causing havoc with other types of agriculture as well. Little fire ants cause blindness in animals and livestock, poultry, and pets in infested areas have a much higher incidence of blindness than do animals without LFA.

Controlling these ants is extremely difficult, especially for tree crops, as few pesticides are registered for use in trees and the bait must stick to branches long enough for the ants to find it. Existing control techniques rely on traditional pesticides; an effective organic method has yet to be developed.

As with any invasive species, preventing spread and establishment are the most cost-effective approaches. Eradication is possible only if the population is small. Once established, these ants may be forever. Little fire ants are widespread on the eastern side of Hawaii Island and beyond eradication in that area, but further spread throughout the state can be prevented. Help protect agriculture on Maui, as well as your own quality of life. Support efforts to prevent their movement between islands and quarantine and check any plants or soil you bring on to your property for little fire ants. Learn more at www.lfa-hawaii.org and www.littlefireants.com.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, May 13th, 2012 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Invasive plants=Less water

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

This rainforest, in Puu Kukui on West Maui, is an example of an open canopy rainforest typical of native rainforest in Hawaii. This forest acts like a ‘sponge,’ absorbing water from rain and gently releasing to recharge streams and aquifers. MISC file photo

When rain falls from the sky by the bucket-load it can be tempting to take water for granted, but the trip from raincloud to tap relies on effective, functioning natural systems. In Hawai‘i, alien plants disrupt the forest’s ability to capture water.

Water follows a cycle through the environment. Water over the ocean evaporates becoming atmospheric moister, as it travels over land it condenses into clouds, falling to Earth as rain or fog drip. Once on the ground, water has three paths: 1) it’s taken up by plants that use it to move nutrients through their cells, then return it to the atmosphere via transpiration; 2) it fills streams, lakes and rivers, eventually returning to the ocean–minus what was used for irrigation or lost through evaporation; or 3) it seeps through the soil into underground pools called aquifers. These aquifers supply most of the water we use to drink, bathe, and grow our food.

Forests have evolved differently to take advantage of prevailing water cycles in their regions. In South America and Africa the greatest diversity of plants is found up in the canopy. In Hawai‘i most plant species are found in the lower third of the forest, closer to the forest floor. Hawaiian understory plants need sunlight filtering through an open canopy. Koa and ‘ōh‘ia, the dominant Hawaiian canopy trees, grow in such a way that light reaches the shrubs and groundcover below.

Koa and ‘ōh‘ia pull water from passing clouds as fog drip; the curved leaves of koa provide surface area to collect moisture from clouds and channel it down leaf tips to the forest floor. Spongy plants on ‘ōh‘ia branches and trunks absorb moisture from passing clouds. Alien species disrupt the system.

Strawberry guava, Psidium cattleanium, has invaded Hawaiian rainforests, growing so dense and so

Strawberry guava invaded forest in Makawao Forest Reserve

The invasive tree strawberry guava chokes out native plants. As it sheds bark, strawberry guava provides no habitat for the plants growing on the trunks of native species. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr.

fast that it chokes out other plants. A strawberry-guava-invaded forest captures water differently than our native forests. In Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park researchers found that a forest dominated by strawberry guava delivered less water to the forest floor than an intact native rainforest. Researchers noticed several differences between the two forest types: more rain ran down the stems of strawberry guava than ‘ōh‘ia but less water was pulled from the passing clouds. This could result from structural differences. ‘Ōh‘ia have aerial roots and furrowed bark carpeted with mosses and small plants called epiphytes. The epiphytes and aerial roots soak up water from passing clouds. Strawberry guava bark is smooth and regularly shed; few plants grow on its trunk and branches.

Other invasive species disrupt the water cycle by sheer size—leaf size. Miconia trees with three-foot long leaves sweep into the forest, stealing light from the understory and transforming it into darkened forest, the soil bare but for miconia seedlings. As another researcher on Hawai‘i Island discovered, the huge leaves are more than just light-hogs. They collect water as if they were huge tarps, and, as anyone who has stood near the edge of a tarp in a rainstorm knows, it’s only a matter of time until the water

The forest floor under a miconia invasion is bare, often with exposed roots. Not a good sign for water collection. MISC file photo

dumps down. The drops running off of miconia turn out to be the largest drops ever measured. Larger drops hit the ground harder, and where miconia has smothered the understory, those drops fall on bare soil. Huge drops compact soil particles, preventing water from seeping down to aquifers, instead causing it to run off, carrying topsoil into streams and eventually the ocean where it can smother coral reefs.

These are only some of the ways invasive plants alter the forest’s ability to capture water. Water-hungry plants like Himalayan ginger pave the forest floor in tough roots. Huge trees like eucalyptus require more water to carry nutrients to their crowns than smaller trees. Unfortunately, the list goes on. Healthy forests mean reliable sources of water. Keeping invasive plants out of native forests is one way to help keep the water flowing from raincloud to tap

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, March 11th, 2012 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee

Flower grower who detected little fire ant in December 2013 receives award

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Masako Cordray, 2014 Malama i ka Aina Award Winner

Farmer and flower grower Masako Cordray was the 2014 recipient of the Malama i ka Aina Award, presented Saturday June 14th in a ceremony at the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals’ Lawn and Garden Fair held at the Maui Mall.

The person nominating her said “Masako’s passion for land stewardship extends beyond the boundaries of the land she farms to the entire island.

On December 23, 2013, Cordray tested plant material she had recently purchased for little fire ants. After finding small orange ants on peanut-butter coated sticks she contacted MISC. Confirmation of the detection by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture set off a chain of events that resulted in the discovery of little fire ants at other garden shops and nurseries on Maui and Oahu and has sparked a statewide response “The 45 minutes she took to sample plant material has had immeasurable consequences. This is truly an example of the contributions one person can make” said MISC manager Teya Penniman.

Cordray has influenced invasive species prevention efforts for many years. She was part of grass roots efforts to incorporate an improved biosecurity facility when the Kahului airport was being expanded–actions that led to the completion of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s state of the art inspection facility completed in 2007. In addition to being a farmer, Cordray is an award-winning photographer and videographer and donated much of her time to helping educate the public about invasive species. She worked to create a film about miconia in 2006 and when little fire ants were discovered on Maui n 2009, she approached MISC about creating a film about this devastating species. A true artist, her attention to detail and uncompromising standards are evident in the quality of her work, both

(L-R) Allison Wright, MALP; Masako Cordray; Teya Penniman, MISC; Rob Parsons, County of Maui. MISC file photo

in her photographs and floral arrangements.

The Malama i ka Aina Award is presented annually to recognize an individual or business working within the landscape or agricultural community to keep invasive species out of Maui County. The award is sponsored by the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP), the County of Maui, and the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC).
This year’s award featured a glass sculpture of an endemic Hawaiian damselfly, or pinao, by local artist Jupiter Nielsen. Award presenters were MALP Vice-President Allison Wright, Maui County Environmental Coordinator Rob Parsons, and Penniman.

Press Release – 2014 MIKA awardee Masako Cordray_final

Moving? Leave the pests behind

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Moving interisland, or even within the island, comes with the risk of bringing invasive species along MISC file photo

Ask anyone who has moved lately – it’s a daunting task. Every move, whether across town, across the state, or across the world involves choices: what to take and what to leave behind. Depending on where you are moving to and from, some of the “take it or toss it” decisions can have a major impact on the environment. Yes, you want to take your prized orchids, but what if they are carrying a pest you don’t want at your new home? Whether you are moving to the mainland or merely interisland, you should take steps not to bring trouble with you.

Hawai‘i is particularly susceptible to introductions of foreign species and each Hawaiian island is battling its own unique set of pests—plants, insects, or animals that are not found on the other islands. For example, fireweed is ubiquitous on the slopes of Haleakalā on Maui, but it’s on target for eradication on Moloka‘i and Kaua‘i. Red-vented bulbuls, a notorious agricultural pest common on O‘ahu, haven’t yet invaded Maui. How could one of these noisy birds find its way into your luggage? You’d be surprised.

Red-vented bulbuls are cavity nesters. While they most often nest in tree trunks, these opportunists have been known to squeeze into the ends of curtain rods or the tops of ceiling fans. These pestiferous birds are suspected of making it to the Marshall Islands as stowaways in a cargo container.

Less conspicuous than bulbuls are coqui frogs. These tiny hoppers can easily travel with potted plants. Gardening and yard

A notorious hitchiker, the coqui frog, hides in plants and cars. This frog goes through the tadpole stage inside the egg, meaning it's even easier to spread the frog. MISC file photo

A notorious hitchhiker, the coqui frog, hides in plants and cars. This frog goes through the tadpole stage inside the egg, meaning it’s even easier to spread the frog. MISC file photo

supplies like hoses, weed mats, and empty pots are perfect habitat for this noisy amphibian, so check twice before packing these things if coqui are already your neighborhood. If you do choose to bring plants or gardening gear, make sure they are clean and frog-free. Contact your local Invasive Species Committee for treatment information.

One of the tiniest yet most damaging interisland hitchhikers is the stinging little fire ant, now widespread in parts of the Big Island. An infested property can have millions of ants; one square foot can have over 1,800 worker ants with three to seven queens. It only takes one queen and fewer than a dozen workers to start a new colony. The ants can set up shop anywhere – a bed, macadamia nut shells, a computer or golf bag, so it’s easy to accidentally transfer a satellite colony to a new location. If you are moving from a little-fire-ant zone be sure you’re not packing a pest. Your family, pets, and new neighbors will appreciate it!

Shipping your car? Automobiles have been the source of new coqui populations. The small frogs find car bumpers and undercarriages the perfect place to amplify their calls. On a windy day, little fire ants rain down from trees into the beds of pickups and crevices of cars, coming along for the ride to find new habitat to invade. If you live in an infested area, check your car and consult the experts for how to rid these species from your belongings. That way you can move without compromising quiet nights and peaceful time outdoors.

Are your pets moving with you? If you have a cat or dog, just check with the airline, but if your pet is on the “exotic” range of the spectrum—birds, chinchillas, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even lizards—it should be cleared with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. The Jackson’s chameleon, often kept as a pet on Maui, is not established on Lānaāi, Moloka‘i, or Kaua‘i. It’s an invasive species that can harm endangered Hawaiian snails and other native invertebrates if it becomes established in wild areas.

When you are researching a big move, take a few minutes to investigate how to avoid spreading unwanted species to your new home. If you are moving interisland, the island-based Invasive Species Committees are good sources of information. Call the local office or find out online what they are working to control. Any plant material should be inspected by the Department of Agriculture before going interisland. Find the contact for your local Plant Quarantine Office here: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/plant-quarantine-contacts/. Bring the memories – but leave the pests behind.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, March 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee

Protecting the Northwest Hawaiian Islands from Invasive Species

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Laysan, a remote island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, is a refuge for seabirds. Strict decontamination protocols protect these islands from non-native species. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

Stretching 1,200 miles across the Pacific, past Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, lies a sting of tiny islands and obscure atolls ringed by coral reefs. Though the total land area occupies only six square miles, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands host over 14 million nesting seabirds and provide the only habitat for four endangered land birds. The extreme isolation of the islands, and hence the relative lack of human presence, mean the Northwest Hawaiian Islands serve as critical refuges for the survival of coastal plants and animals now threatened or no longer present on the main Hawaiian Islands. But human presence has not been entirely lacking—military and private interests, and the plants and animals carried along, have left a lasting legacy on the islands.

Introduced species can have dramatic and devastating effects on the plants and animals that have evolved to live in such remote isolation, and the isolation can affect the way these species behave. Take the big-headed on Kure Atoll, which probably arrived as a stowaway with human cargo. On the main Hawaiian Islands and nearby islets, big-headed ants are a pest, but don’t seem to cause a measurable reduction in fledgling success of seabird chicks. Not so on Kure, where the density of these ants is five times greater than it ever was on Moku‘auia islet off O‘ahu before biologists eradicated the ant. The ants are so numerous on Kure they attack everything they encounter, including seabird hatchlings.

On Laysan, the intentional release of rabbits in 1902 caused the extinction of numerous plants and animals and three species of land birds found nowhere else in the world. The rabbits have since been eradicated and the atoll is still home to a number of endemic species, including the Laysan duck, a bird once widespread in Hawai‘i.

Lessons learned from the intentional and accidental introduction of non-native species have shaped the management practices for travel today. To protect some of the last remaining examples of intact native coastal habitat in Hawaii, along with millions of

The Laysan duck is a small dabbling duck that nearly went extinct due to invasive species. Today it is found on three of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

seabirds, land birds, and insects that live there, natural resource managers have taken steps to prevent hitchhiking plants and insects.

University of Hawai‘i early detection specialists Forest and Kim Starr know the drill. They have visited most of the islands in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, conducting surveys of native and non-native birds, plants and insects. They’ve gone through rigorous preparations to ensure they’re not bringing unwelcome guests with them. In September 2013, the Starrs traveled to Laysan, one of the islands with the greatest levels of protection. “Everything, from boots and tents, down to the fabric sunglasses retainers has to be new,” Kim said, in accordance with procedures established by the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

They freeze everything they pack for 48 hours to kill any insects or larvae and help sterilize any overlooked seeds. The strict decontamination protocols help prevent the spread of

Once found on the main Hawaiian Islands, The Laysan Finch is only found on a handful of atolls in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This ground-nesting finch is extremely vulnerable to introduced species like rats and ants. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

biological material from the main Hawaiian Islands to these spectacular but vulnerable atolls. “Fewer people have been to Laysan than Everest,” explains Kim. Even food is restricted on the more isolated islands. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not permitted and food not in cans or jars must be frozen for 48 hours as well. All gear must be packed in plastic tubs and buckets, as cardboard or wood can harbor insect larvae.

To maintain some of the healthiest intact reefs in the world, divers must rinse all their gear in a mild bleach solution to remove fragments of invasive algae. Boats and ships must maintain clean hulls and exchange ballast water at sea. And all vessels must be free of rodents—one of the single greatest threats to ground nesting seabirds.

To protect the species found on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, rigorous protocols help prevent “forward contamination.” Every island in Hawai‘i is unique; each has species found only on that island. You can protect the rare species of your island by taking simple measures to prevent spreading invasive species. Make sure potted plants and cut flowers are inspected by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture before you carry them interisland and that soft gear, like tents, boots, even the cuffs of your pants are free of seeds, insects, and other hitchhikers. To learn more about the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, look online at www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, February 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Nominations now being accepted for the Malama i ka Aina Award

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Christina Chang of Lokelani Ohana, a farm in Waihee, Maui, accepts the Malama i ka Aina Award. Presenters from left to right are Teya Penniman of MISC, Cas Vanderwoude of the Hawaii Ant Lab. and Rob Parsons with the County of Maui. Chang was recognized for her efforts to stop the spread of the little fire ant on Maui.

Do you know a landscape professional making a significant effort to stop the spread of invasive species in Maui County?

Nominations are now being accepted to honor efforts invasive species prevention efforts within Maui County. The Malama i ka Aina Award is presented annually to a landscaper, plant provider (retail and wholesale nurseries and garden shops), or commercial/agricultural property owner/manager to recognize their efforts to keep invasive species out of Maui County.The award is a cooperative effort of the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, the Maui Invasive Species Committee, and the County of Maui.The award will be presented June 14th at the Maui Association of Landscape Professional’s Lawn & Garden Fair at the Maui Mall.

Nominations are due May 30th, 2014. Nominations (form available through this link:2014 Malama i ka Aina award-on-line fillable nomination) can be submitted via email to miscpr@hawaii.edu, through regular mail, MISC, PO Box 983, Makawao HI 96768, or faxed in: 808.573.-6475

Please call the Maui Invasive Species Committee if you have any questions, 808.573.6472.

Aliens and Space Travel-Preventing Invasive Species from Reaching the Final Frontier

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

No hugs and kisses yet. The astronauts on Apollo 11 spent nearly 2 weeks in a quarantine facility when they returned from their moon landing to ensure they were not carrying any lunar microorganisms. Looking through the window (left to right) Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins. The wives are (left to right) Mrs. Pat Collins, Mrs. Jan Armstrong, and Mrs. Jean Aldrin. Photo Courtesy NASA.

When the Polynesians set out to find Hawai‘i, like all explorers, they did not know what they would find so they packed carefully, bringing food and other essentials to help them survive in the new land. Modern travelers do the same, whether heading to a new town or a new planet, yet, even with all the preparations, there are still surprises—sometimes in the way those essential items can affect the final destination.

This is the first in a series of three articles looking at efforts to protect the places we journey to from the things we journey with.

The farther you travel the more preparations you make. And for exploring the far reaches of our known universe, preparations take years. When the first astronauts walked on the moon, they were understandably more interested in what they would find than what they would leave behind. But the possibility of contaminating distant lunar or planetary bodies was on the mind of many scientists at the time. Contamination could compromise scientific experiments, invalidating any proof of life on anther planet. Or an organism from earth could become invasive—altering or destroying life on a distant planet.

With these concerns in mind, the U.S. National Academy of Scientists passed a resolution in 1958 urging scientists to “plan lunar and planetary studies with great care and deep concern so that initial operations do not compromise and make impossible forever after critical scientific experiments.” Soon thereafter, NASA’s planetary protection office was created, with a focus on preventing both forward contamination–earth microbes into space– and back contamination—alien microbes back to earth.

To reduce the likelihood of forward contamination, spacecraft are built in cleanrooms designed to reduce the amount of dust and bacteria landing on a spacecraft. Workers must wear protective clothing so they do not leave behind hair or bacteria. And once the spacecraft is built, it is sterilized, either by baking in a giant oven at 325˚F for 30 hours or by treating it with vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

The level of planetary protection varies by the type of mission and destination. For example, an orbiter mission to Mars has a lower probability of contamination than a probe actually landing on the planet, so the cleaning requirements would be less rigorous – what’s known in space lingo as acceptable levels of biological burden. .

And as for what comes back to earth? There are protocols for that as well. When the astronauts from Apollo 11 splashed down south of Johnston Atoll in the middle of the Pacific in 1969, the recovery crew passed biological isolation garments into the hatch and resealed it. Donned in their new attire, they climbed aboard rafts and were sponged off with bleach before entering a quarantine facility aboard the rescue ship where they were isolated for 2 weeks and observed for infections from lunar pathogens. Subsequent missions Apollo 12 and 13 had similar protocols, but NASA has since classified the moon as devoid of life and relaxed decontamination for lunar missions.

NASA’s planetary protection office is tasked with protecting life in the universe from accidental movement of organisms between celestial bodies. But the goal of planetary protection is not so different from the responsibilities facing the quarantine branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, doing its best to prevent both forward and back contamination on our little planet of Hawai‘i. The impacts of alien contamination coming into our state can be catastrophic—think fire ants or snakes. You can do your part on your next exploration to reduce the “biological burden,” even if it just means brushing your boots before a hike or checking plants you bring onto your property to ensure you aren’t introducing an “alien” contaminants.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, January 12th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Roomba on the Reef–Native collector urchins on the prowl for invasive algae

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker Leave a Comment

A diver holds native collector urchin in his hand. Monitoring has shown these tiny urchins are successfully controlling invasive algae. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

Let’s say you are trying to remove tiny piece of invasive plant material from an area 8 miles long and almost 3 miles wide. If you miss any, it will take over again. And you are working under water.

This is the situation the Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) faces at Kāne‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu. An invasive algae, Kappaphycus spp., also known as smothering seaweed has overrun the reef causing a cascade of impacts. “They’re so aggressive they outcompete native limu [seaweed]; they grow so dense they kill coral and dominate habitat for tako [octopus] and small fish,” explains Jono Blodgett, aquatic species project leader with DAR.

First DAR tackled the alien algae with the Super Sucker, a giant vacuum mounted on a boat. Divers worked their way across the reef, sucking up the algae. Technicians would sort through it, tossing native limu back to colonize the reef, and bagging the invasive algae to give to local farmers to be used for compost. Unfortunately, gains were temporary–fragments of invasive algae left behind would regrow. DAR next called in native Hawaiian sea urchins with an appetite for invasive algae.

If the Super Sucker was a giant vacuum, native collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) are more like a Roomba, that small robotic vacuum that automatically cleans house floors. Once released, these spiny herbivores move across the reef munching algae as they find it. They would eat native limus as well, if the invasive algae hadn’t taken over all the natives.

Volunteers help rehome tank-raised native collector urchins to the reef in Kāne‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

The first urchins were released by DAR in January of 2011 and they’ve proven their worth. Although this urchin is native to Hawai‘i, it wasn’t abundant enough on the reef to control the algae in Kāne‘ohe Bay. Their numbers used to be much greater in the Bay, but unknown reasons have caused their populations to decline. By elevating the urchin populations, resource managers are getting ahead of the invasive algae.

The urchins used are a native species, selected because they stay on the reef and munch algae day and night. Adult urchins are collected from the wild and bred in captivity. After juvenile urchins reach 15mm, typically within 5-6 months, they are sent to work: released in Kāne‘ohe Bay to settle out over the reef and eat to their hearts’ content. Currently 5000 urchins are released each month in Kāne‘oheBay.

Density numbers are still being analyzed, but initially, urchins are released at a density of two per square meter and once the algae are under control, one urchin per square meter keeps the reef maintained. With some patch reefs as large as 30,000 square meters, it will take a lot of urchins. “We’re hoping to double production by next year,” says Blodgett.

Native collector urchins dine happily on invasive alage in Kāne‘ohe Bay. Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

Monitoring in Kāne‘ohe has shown that the collector urchins are effectively controlling invasive algae. Based on the success of the cleanup in Kāne‘oheBay, collector urchins could become invasive algae cleanup crews across the state. DAR has done trials to see if the urchins will control another alien alga: the gorilla ogo (Gracilaria salicornia) that plagues Waikīkī and much of Moloka‘i.

In the meantime, Blodgett advises leaving urchins and other herbivores alone and making sure dive and snorkel gear is free of any pieces of algae when you leave a site. Invasive algae spread through fragmentation, explains Blodgett, “Rinse gear before leaving a site.”

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, December 8th, 2013 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Premiere of the new documentary Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker Leave a Comment

In 2009, Waihee farmer Christina Chang was stung on the eye by a tiny ant at her home on Maui. She suspected, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture confirmed, that this ant was the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, never before found on Maui. The detection spurred creation of a new documentary, Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii.

Invasive species introductions to Hawaii often end in regret and a list of should-haves. This film, produced by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, aims to change the result of the arrival of little fire ants in Hawaii. Featuring videography from award-winning film makers Masako Cordray and Chris Reickert, this half-hour film examines the biology, impacts, and potential solutions to the spread of little fire ants through interviews with scientists, farmers, and community on the Big Island reeling from the impacts of this miniscule, but devastating, ant. Viewers will learn how to identify and report new infestations, helping to protect Hawaii from this small stinging ant

The Waihee site is on target for eradication. However, little fire ants have recently been detected moving between islands, raising concern about the establishment of new infestations. On Hawaii Island, the little fire ant is now widespread in the Hilo area where efforts are focused on educating landowners about control options. Infestations are now occurring on the Kona side as well. Research on effective control continues by the Hawaii Ant Lab, a joint project of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and University of Hawaii. The little fire ant on Kauai is contained within a 12-acre area under active control by HDOA

The film will premiere on Maui January 8^that the McCoy Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Doors open at 5pm. An awards ceremony and panel discussion will follow the screening. Food and beverages are available for purchase on site beginning at 4:30pm.

Screenings on other islands will follow. Please RSVP to miscpr@hawaii.edu to reserve a seat. Below is the current screening schedule:

Maui: January 8, McCoy Theater and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, 5pm
Oahu: January 13, Cafe Julia at the YWCA, 1040 Richard St, 4:30pm
Kauai: January 18, Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center
Hilo: TBA (February 18)
Kona: February 19, Aloha Performing Arts Center, 5pm

The film will also air throughout the state on KITV

Sat 1/11 630-7PM

Sunday 1/12 9-9:30AM

Sat 1/19 4-4:30PM

Sunday 1/20 10:30-11P

Funding and support for the film was provided by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, County of Maui-Office of Economic Development, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii Community Foundation-Pikake Fund, Maui Electric Company, Alexander and Baldwin Foundation, Tri-Isle RC&D. MISC and the Hawaii Ant Lab are collaborative projects of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

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Premiere of the new documentary Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii

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