Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

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Koloa – the Hawaiian Duck

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

This koloa landed at a water lily farm in Huelo. Most koloa on Maui are likely a mallard-koloa hybird, but this one, far from the Kanaha and Kealia Ponds may be related to Koloa released above Keanae. Photo by Masako Cordray.

This koloa landed at a water lily farm in Huelo. Most koloa on Maui are likely a mallard-koloa hybird, but this one, far from the Kanaha and Kealia Ponds may be related to Koloa released above Keanae. Photo by Masako Cordray.

About 1.5 million years ago a handful of stray mallard ducks made their way to the Hawaiian Islands. They came from North America and found a hospitable home in Hawaiʻi.

Mallards are remarkably adaptable: they are omnivorous and will eat virtually anything. They can make a home in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater wetlands.  No one knows exactly where in Hawaiʻi these avian settlers first arrived—but we do know that Maui was still Maui Nui at the time, still connected to Molokaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, and Lānaʻi. The conglomerate island was huge: at its peak, 1.2 million years ago, Maui Nui measured 5,640 square miles, 40% larger than modern day Hawaiʻi. It featured vast plains, marshlands, and a giant wetland, no doubt attractive to ducks and other water birds.

Isolation and time combined to create the conditions for something completely different; over generations, those few pioneer mallards evolved into a brand new species – common throughout the Hawaiian Islands, but found nowhere else in the world: the koloa, or Hawaiian duck. While mallards are loud and gregarious, koloa are quiet, and live in pairs or alone. Koloa are slightly smaller than their mallard ancestors. They like wetlands but also live in mountain streams, deftly navigating tight corridors and dense forests up to 10,000 feet. Koloa made their way into the legends of Hawaiʻi. When Imaikalani, a chief in Ka‘ū on Hawaiʻi Island, lost his eyesight, koloa acted as his scouts, alerting him with quacks about where his enemies hid in the forest.

Koloa-pair-Hanalei_8045_edit1-1webbIn the mid-1800s these birds were common on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Kahoʻolawe and Lānaʻi. But as people filled the wetlands to make room for ball fields, car dealerships, and shopping malls, the koloa lost much of their nesting habitat. Introduced rats and mongoose stole koloa eggs and preyed on their young. By the 1950s, those impacts, combined with the onset of turn-of-the-century hunting, had caused our native ducks to disappear from Maui and most of the other main Hawaiian Islands. In the 1960s, koloa were listed as an endangered species; today, the largest population of koloa is found on Kauaʻi. There, they number fewer than 2,000 birds.

To help the species recover, the State of Hawaiʻi began reintroducing koloa throughout the Islands, drawing from the Kauaʻi population. In 1989, they released 25 birds on Maui at Kanahā Pond and in Piinau Valley above Keʻanae. Unfortunately, these koloa faced another obstacle to survival: genetic dilution.

In the late 1800s, non-native mallards were introduced to Hawaiʻi, this time in large numbers as game birds and pets. By 1980, healthy populations of feral mallards occupied many of the wetland areas throughout the state. Koloa and mallards long ago diverged into two distinct species but they can still mate and produce fertile hybrid offspring. Today, all of the koloa at Kanahā and Keālia ponds are hybrids. As generations pass, the hybrids are becoming less and less koloa. Eventually the unique genetics of the koloa could disappear entirely, rendering the species extinct.

These feral mallards are different from the migratory versions that show up in small numbers every year. The migratory birds are not in the mood for romance when they reach Hawaiʻi, so there is no chance of hybridization. The resident mallards are more domesticated and aggressive. They pose the greatest threat to the re-establishment of the koloa.

Today, the Kauaʻi population is home to a healthy population of pure koloa, thanks to efforts to remove rats and feral mallards at their breeding sites (koloa on Kauaʻi do not have to contend with mongoose). With continued protection, biologists are hopeful for the recovery of this species and its reintroduction throughout the state.

As for Maui, there are no immediate plans to reintroduce koloa. According to Dr. Fern Duvall, Maui Nui Program Manager with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, koloa may still occur in the mountain streams above Keʻanae, offspring of the birds released in 1989. To protect these rare Hawaiian ducks and ensure their successful reintroduction in the future, we must reduce existing mallard populations. Don’t feed mallards or feral ducks. If you happen to be a duck aficionado, keep your pets contained and their wings clipped. Never release your feathered friends into the wild.

Lissa Fox Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on July 10th, 2016 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Kia'i Moku Column Tagged With: 2016, invasive ducks, koloa on Maui, koloa threats, mallards in hawaii

Adam Radford Named New Manager of MISC

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Adam Radford, the new manager of MISC, brings a breadth of skills and expertise to the position.

Adam Radford, the new manager of MISC, brings a breadth of skills and expertise to the position.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) announced the hire of new manager Adam Radford, who assumes the helm on July 1. Radford has been with MISC since 2005, serving as its operations manager since 2010. He earned his undergraduate degree at UH Manoa and a master’s in natural resource management from California State University at Chico. Radford was a Ka Ipu Kukui fellow in 2013 and chaired the Maui Conservation Alliance during its recent strategic planning initiative. He will oversee all field and outreach activities for Maui and provide administrative oversight for the Molokai Invasive Species Committee, while working to ensure financial support for the projects.

Teya Penniman is taking a new position focused on special projects and developing a private donor program for MISC and other conservation projects.

Teya Penniman is taking a new position focused on special projects and developing a private donor program for MISC and other conservation projects.

MISC Chair Lloyd Loope says Radford brings a unique breadth of skills and expertise to the position. “Adam has real-world experience managing complex operations. He’s trained scores of conservation workers in safe rappelling techniques and developed successful approaches to some of Maui’s most challenging invasive species problems. He’s recognized as a conservation leader both locally and statewide and was tapped to develop an invasive species inventory strategy for the Republic of Palau’s protected area network.” Loope also highlighted Radford’s experience with grant writing and public speaking.

Radford replaces outgoing manager Teya Penniman who has led MISC since 2002. During Penniman’s tenure, MISC grew from a staff of 11 to more than 30, while responding to new threats such as little fire ants. She has taken a new position focused on special projects and developing a private donor program for MISC and other conservation projects. Penniman also lauded Radford for his work. “Adam has been the architect behind our ground and air operations for more than a decade and is a respected leader
among field staff, partners, and the community. I couldn’t be more pleased to hand over the reins to someone of his caliber and dedication. It’s a new era for MISC.”

MISC is a project of the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Trained staff on Maui and Molokai work to protect the islands’ environment, economy, agriculture and quality of life from the most harmful invasive species. The project relies on public, private and nonprofit funding. Key funders include Maui County, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Adam Radford, MISC manager, Teya Penniman

Uggh, slugs! Protect your garden and your health in light of rat lungworm disease

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Hawaiʻi is a gardenerʻs paradise, but slug control is critical given the presence of the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Hawaiʻi is a gardenerʻs paradise, but slug control is critical given the presence of the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Rat lungworm disease: It may be rare but it’s memorable–like a horror movie come to life. Nightmarish tales of muscle spasms, temporary paralysis, and comas stemming from rat lungworm infection circulate on the news and the coconut wireless. Most cases in the Islands have been on Hawaiʻi Island but a few have occurred on Maui.

Humans are an accidental host for the rat lungworm nematode, but ingesting the nematode can have severe consequences. Graphic by Centers for Disease Control.

Humans are an accidental host for the rat lungworm nematode, but ingesting the nematode can have severe consequences. Graphic by Centers for Disease Control.

Rat lungworm is a parasitic nematode that—as you might guess from its name—infects the lungs of rats. If the parasite stayed in the rat, few of us would be concerned, but because part of the nematode’s complex and bizarre life cycle occurs in other common animals, people are at risk. Eggs laid in a rat’s lungs hatch and the microscopic larvae travel through the rat’s digestive tract, ending up in the animal’s poop. Mollusks such as slugs and snails feed on this, allowing the nematode to develop further inside its second host. When infected mollusks are eaten by a rat, the parasite travels first to the rat’s brain, then to its lungs, and the cycle repeats.

Unfortunately, slugs end up on the menu for other animals, humans included. Gardening in Hawaiʻi means dealing with cryptic, slithering pests, which often find their way into the harvest. A tiny slug tucked in a fresh batch of greens is easily overlooked.

“Don’t eat out of the garden without first washing the produce,” cautions Lynn Nakamura-Tengan, an extension educator with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on Maui. She specializes in food safety and nutrition.

Always wash produce to remove any stowaway slugs that could carry the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Always wash produce to remove any stowaway slugs that could carry the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Eating a stowaway slug can come with serious consequences. If the slimy pest that slipped into your salad or smoothie carries nematode larvae, you become an accidental host. The larvae will travel through the bloodstream to the brain, but in humans they go no farther. The larvae continue developing as they crawl through the brain and eventually die—in the process, they trigger an infection causing eosinophilic meningitis, a swelling of the lining around the brain. The number of nematode larvae consumed determines the severity of the infection. Signs of rat lungworm disease range from flu-like symptoms, muscle spasms, and headaches, to temporary paralysis, nerve damage, coma, and even death.

Infected slugs or snails can climb into catchment tanks and drown, releasing microscopic nematode larvae that float around in the water and remain infectious for up to 3 days. If people use untreated catchment water for drinking or for brushing teeth, they can contract the disease.

The first cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaiʻi occurred in the 1960s. Infections have recently spiked in the Puna area of Hawaiʻi Island. One reason is the presence of a semi-slug—a small slug with a partial shell that is invading Puna. The semi-slug’s life cycle and behavior may lead to a higher concentration of nematode larvae and a higher risk of passing the disease on to people.

That said, many mollusks common on Maui can carry the rat lungworm larvae, including giant African snails, golden apple snails, and the Cuban slug. Even the slime trail left behind can carry the parasite, though slime is not as likely a source of infestation.

Once a person contracts rat lungworm, there is no known treatment, therefore prevention is the key.

The Cuban slug is one of the common slugs on Maui and a carrier of rat lungworm. Photo by David Robinson of USDA-APHIS.

The Cuban slug is one of the common slugs on Maui and a carrier of rat lungworm. Photo by David Robinson of USDA-APHIS.

How can you avoid getting rat lungworm? Keep the critters away. “Be mindful of pest management,”   advises Nakamura-Tengan. Regularly control rats, slugs, and snails.  There are many methods, including those appropriate for organic gardens. If you hand pick slugs or snails, wear gloves and dispose of the slugs in the trash so pets don’t eat them. Dogs and horses have contracted rat lungworm disease, though no cases have occurred in cats. It’s unknown whether chickens can be infected, but studies from Australia show parrots are vulnerable to the disease.

Most importantly: hold off on the garden snacks until washing. “The cute picture of the kid eating a strawberry straight from the garden makes me cringe,” says Nakamura-Tengan. Wash, wash, and then wash your produce again, inspecting each leaf under running water as you go. A slug can often survive a hurried rinse in the sink. There is no benefit to using vegetable washes (dilute solutions of bleach, vinegar, or saltwater) to remove slugs – plain running water does the trick. Dispose of heavily contaminated produce or kill the parasite by cooking or freezing.  If you have a catchment tank, take measures to keep slugs and snails out and filter water appropriately.

Keep gardening and growing your own vegetables – the presence of rat lungworm in Hawaiʻi is no reason to stop healthy eating practices. It is a good reason to be mindful about controlling pests and washing your produce- good habits in general.

 

Learn more:

  • Maui Emergency Health Preparedness
  • University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo – Rat Lungworm FAQ
  • Hawaiʻi Department of Health – Rat lungworm information
  • College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources food safety

You can help; survey your yard or farm for slugs and snails and report your  findings here:

 

 

 

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on March 13th, 2016 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Decontamination, Kia'i Moku Column Tagged With: 2016, rat lungworm on maui, risk of eating slugs, slugs in hawaii

Gold dust day geckos are only the latest moʻo to make Maui home

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Gold dust day geckos are here to stay. These colorful 5" long lizards are increasingly widespread on Maui and nothing to worry about. Photo by Eric Sonstroem, Flikr.

Gold dust day geckos are here to stay. These colorful 5″ long lizards are increasingly widespread on Maui and nothing to worry about. They can be distinguished from other lizards by the sprinkling of gold dust along the side of their necks.  Photo by Eric Sonstroem, Flikr.

https://www.643pest.org/

Geckos are ubiquitous throughout the Hawaiian Islands today, but that was not always the case. Though lizards can colonize islands by clinging to drifting trees and plant material, the Hawaiian archipelago’s extreme isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean likely prevented any terrestrial reptiles from reaching our shores. It was only after humans arrived in Hawaiʻi that reptiles and amphibians found passage aboard canoes, ships, and eventually planes. Thus began the waves of introduced geckos, skinks, frogs, and chameleons that came and spread throughout the Islands.

The first lizards stowed away with Polynesians in large oceangoing canoes. Mourning geckos, stump-toed geckos, tree geckos, Indo-Pacific geckos, snake-eyed skinks, moth skinks, copper-tailed skinks, and the now-extinct azure-tailed skinks were already established in Hawaiʻi when Captain Cook arrived.

Though it may be impossible to measure the impact these small lizards had, the arrival of voracious, insect-eaters in an ecosystem that evolved over millennia without lizards or amphibians would inevitably result in a decline in native insects. This is problematic for Hawaiʻi, which has tens of thousands of unique invertebrates—many of which exist nowhere else on Earth and have yet to be described by science.

The giant Madagascar day gecko was illegally introduced to the state. Any sightings of the large 12 inch long moʻo should be immediately reported to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 634-PEST (7378). Photo by MrTinDC, Flikr.

The giant Madagascar day gecko was illegally introduced to the state. Any sightings of the large 12 inch long moʻo should be immediately reported to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 643-PEST (7378). Photo by MrTinDC, Flikr.

The eight Polynesian-introduced geckos and skinks are still present in Hawaiʻi, but a few recent introductions have stolen the spotlight. Common house geckos only showed up in the last 60 years or so. They most likely hitchhiked to Hawaiʻi in the 1940s in cargo moved around the Pacific. Aggressive and territorial, they’ve outcompeted mourning geckos and others for the prized perch near the porch light.

An even newer arrival seems to be outcompeting the house gecko: the gold dust day gecko. This exotic, 5-inch long lizard is hard to miss: it appears to be dressed for Mardi Gras in brilliant green with bright blue eye shadow, red markings across its nose and at the base of the tail, and a sprinkling of gold spots dusted along back of its neck. Active primarily during the day, this gecko is native to Madagascar and small islands off the coast of East Africa.

Rather than arriving as a stowaway as other geckos and skinks have, the gold dust day gecko was illegally smuggled in and released. The entire Hawaiian population stems from only eight lizards a University of Hawaiʻi student released near the Mānoa campus in 1974. Shortsighted lizard enthusiasts intentionally dispersed the geckos, which then colonized new areas on their own. Maui residents began seeing gold dust day geckos creeping around Kīhei in the mid 90s. The lizards now populate landscaped yards throughout South and Central Maui and are becoming common Upcountry.

Gold dust day geckos eat insects: cockroaches, ants, flies, beetles, and spiders, but they also have a sweet tooth and lap up nectar from flowers or juice from ripe fruit. To date, they occupy roughly the same areas as other geckos, but the newcomer’s impact isn’t entirely understood. Their omnivorous diet may give them an advantage. While the colorful lizards seem harmless, they could be pressuring native ecosystems in ways not yet identified.

Orange spotted day geckos are another lizard to be on the lookout for. They are about 7 inches long and do not have the gold dust along their necks, rather have powder blue markings on their back amidst a pattern of orange bars. Photo by Herr Olsen.

Orange spotted day geckos are another lizard to be on the lookout for. They are about 7 inches long and do not have the gold dust along their necks, rather have powder blue markings on their back amidst a pattern of orange bars. Photo by Herr Olsen.

While it’s too late to address the gold dust day gecko on Maui, there are two more species of day geckos to look out for. Both were illegally imported, and are only found in a few places on O’ahu. The orange-spotted day gecko and the Madagascar giant day gecko are both green with red markings, but lack the gold dusting. The orange spotted day gecko is slightly bigger than its gold-dusted cousin, reaching 7 inches in length, and the giant day gecko is a whopping 10-12 inches including tail. Any sightings of these new lizards should be reported immediately to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture’s statewide pest hotline at 643-PEST or online via the Report A Pest website at 643PEST.org

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on January 10th, 2016 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Invasive Animals, Kia'i Moku Column Tagged With: 2016, geico gecko, gold dust day gecko, invasive geckos maui, Madagascar giant day gecko, Orange spotted day gecko

Nominate a landscaper for the Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Dr. Angela Kepler, receives the 2015 Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award, presented by MISC Manager Teya Penniman, and Maui County Environmental Coordinator Rob. Parsons. Photo by Brian Lieberman.

Dr. Angela Kepler, receives the 2015 Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award. The annual award is presented by MISC Manager Teya Penniman,  Maui County Environmental Coordinator Rob Parsons, and MALP President Allison Wright (not pictured). Photo by Brian Lieberman.

Nominations due May 29th, 2016.

Nominations are now being accepted to honor invasive species prevention efforts within Maui County.  The Mālama i ka ʻĀina 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 winner will be announced Saturday, June 18th at the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals’ Lawn & Garden Fair at the Maui Mall.  The winner will receive a plaque, a glass sculpture by artist Jupiter Nielsen, a one-year free membership with the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals and local media recognition.

Applicants are requested to explain how the nominee’s activities or decisions have contributed to keeping Maui free from invasive species. Examples include: not selling or using invasive plants; steps taken to learn about invasives; and efforts to reduce use of invasive species by other customers.

Applications are due by May 29th, 2016 and can be downloaded here: 2016 Malama i ka `Aina Award On-line Application or from the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals at www.malp.org  You may submit completed nominations via  email to miscpr@hawaii.edu, fax to 573-6475, or mail to MISC at P.O. Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768. There is no fee to apply. Self-nominations are welcome.  For more information, call 573-MISC (6472), or e-mail miscpr@hawaii.edu.

Past Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award recipients were recognized for meaningful steps taken to prevent the spread of invasive species, including incorporating codes-of-conduct in business practices, educating the public and clients about invasive species, and encouraging the use of native species in landscape design. Actions of award recipients are steps in the right direction!

Applications due by May 29th, 2016: 2016 Malama i ka `Aina Award On-line Application 

Filed Under: In the field, Malama i ka Aina Award Tagged With: landscaper award, malama i ka aina

Glycine got ya down?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Tips & Tricks for Common Pests – Glycine

glycine smothering habit ulupalakua -fks

Glycine blankets the roadsides of Ulupalakua and parts of Kula. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

With all the rain last summer, many upcountry Maui homeowners spent the winter battling a twining green vine. Glycine, most commonly known from ʻUlupalakua and Kanaio, is the vine that blankets fences and rock walls and hangs from trees. It primarily grows in open sunny areas. When the rains come, a flush of seedlings follows.

Related to the common soybean, glycine (Neonotonia wightii) is a nutrient-rich nitrogen fixer. The Soil Conservation Service introduced this tropical vine to Hawai’i after a massive kikuyu grass dieback in the 1970s. Glycine was widely recommended for pasture improvement and forage. Grazing animals love it, but in their absence, the vine can take over.

Glycine seeds remain viable for years in the soil. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Glycine seeds remain viable for years in the soil. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Diana Crow is the Native Plant Project and Nursery Manager for ʻUlupalakua Ranch, a position that has necessitated she be adept at glycine control. Her advice for controlling the weed:

  • Biological: Animals love glycine – a pet goat would be happy to help you.
  • Mechanical: First, cut all the vines back from the tree or bush you are trying to save and loosen the vine along the trunk and branches to stop the vine from strangling the tree. Follow the vine down to the ground and pull or cut out the roots. If any root is left in the ground you will have to check for resprouts and cut it back until the reserves in the root are exhausted. If the plant has been there for a while, there will be a seedbank. Flushes of seedlings can be controlled by putting down boards, black plastic, or anything that blocks water and sunlight until seedlings die, usually within a month or two. Solarization of the seedbank may be possible in sunny areas. (Solarization is a method of reducing the seedbank by covering the soil with clear plastic until the sun heats it to a point that kills the seeds. Check for resources online.)
  • Chemical: Apply herbicide directly to the cut trunk of a vine. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum herbicide, one intended for broadleaf plants that is effective on legumes. The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources recommends a foliar spray of 2% triclopyr amine with a surfactant in the “Weeds of Pastures and Natural Areas.” 
  • Cultural: Glycine thrives with water; reducing irrigation or sprinklers may help, but not in the presence of seasonal rains. The seedpods will twist when ripe and dry, shooting seeds yards away. Glycine’s seed bank seems to last years, as Diana still has seedlings coming up from an area where a plant was removed 8 years ago. Her advice: DON’T LET IT SEED!

We recommend using an Integrated Pest Management approach to managing weed pests and the information provided here reflects that perspective.

 Photos of glycine courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

Filed Under: Common Pests, In the field, Invasive Plants Tagged With: Glycine on Maui, Neonatonia wightii, remove glycine

What if there were no mosquitoes in Hawaiʻi?

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue worldwide. This species is not widespread in Hawaii. Photo by James Gathany,CDC.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue worldwide. This species is not widespread in Hawaii. Photo by James Gathany,CDC.

The news is abuzz with mosquitoes these days; outbreaks of dengue fever on Hawaiʻi Island have us all a little more nervous when the high-pitched whine of a tiny pest reaches our ear. Mosquito-vectored viruses like Zika and chikungunya are on the horizon. Health officials in both South America and Hawaiʻi Island are scrambling to find ways to reduce mosquito populations and protect human health. Scientists are busy making nearly daily advances in the lab as well. All of the energy focused on removing these pests raises the question: how would the total removal of mosquitoes alter ecosystems?

There are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world, of which only a few hundred bite. Mosquitoes and their larvae are food for fish, bats, birds, and dragonflies. Male mosquitoes don’t suck blood, they daintily sip nectar. In return, they help to pollinate some aquatic plants. But despite their service as prey and pollinator, many scientists think ecosystems would recover just fine if mosquitoes were gone–other insects could fill that niche, and we’d have one less vector for disease. Good news globally, but it only gets better for Hawaiʻi.

The Culex mosquito, larvae shown here, is the mosquito responsible for spreading avian malaria between introduced and native birds. Photo by James Gathany, CDC.

The Culex mosquito, larvae shown here, is the mosquito responsible for spreading avian malaria between introduced and native birds. Photo by James Gathany, CDC.

In Hawaiʻi, mosquitoes are food for native bats (ʻōpeʻapeʻa) and dragonflies (pinao). Would these species go hungry without this imported food source? Not in the least, explains Dennis Lapointe, an ecologist with the US Geological Survey who researches the ecological role of mosquitoes and birds in Hawaiʻi. “[Mosquitoes] are all non-native and everything that is native and endemic got along fine without them.” Some species of native damselfly larvae eat mosquito larvae, but they have other food sources.

The greatest ecological benefit would be to our native birds. Disease-spreading mosquitoes are a significant factor keeping iʻiwi,ʻ apapane, and other Hawaiian honeycreepers from flitting through the trees in your yard.

Aedes albopictus is widespread in Hawai'i and is a vector of Zika among other human diseases. Photo by James Gathany, CDC.

Aedes albopictus is widespread in Hawai’i and is a vector of Zika among other human diseases. Photo by James Gathany, CDC.

Mosquitoes first arrived in Hawaiʻi when sailors dumped a barrel of water containing larvae of the Culex mosquito into the wetlands that once surrounded Lahaina. The Culex mosquito became the vector that spread avian pox and malaria from non-native birds to Hawaiian forest birds, precipitating their decline. The native passerines lacked any resistance against these foreign diseases.

Today, our few remaining native forest birds are relegated to high-elevation refuges, protected by temperatures cool enough to keep mosquitos at bay. But protection could be short lived; current estimates of climate change indicate these refugia could disappear within 80-100 years.

If mosquitoes disappeared, so would the threat of avian malaria.

Currently, the fate of native birds is not foremost in our minds as human-health threats loom: the Aedes mosquitoes, which are also found in Hawaiʻi, are in the news now. A. albopictus, widespread throughout the Islands, is the primary carrier the Zika virus. A. aegypti, a mosquito found only in a few areas on Hawaiʻi Island, is the optimum carrier of dengue. Both Aedes species carry chikungunya. Both of these mosquitoes cause harm, with negligible environmental benefit.

Meanwhile, scientists are working on a tool to reduce mosquito populations without pesticides. Using genetic technology, a self-limiting gene is inserted into the DNA of male mosquitos. Reared in labs, the mosquitos are released to seek out and mate with females, but the self –limiting genes is passed along and their offspring die as

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and removing breeding sites is one way to help reduce the density of mosquitoes. Photo by Mary Hollinger, NOAA.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and removing breeding sites is one way to help reduce the density of mosquitoes. Photo by Mary Hollinger, NOAA.

larvae. The existing adults die off and are not replaced. Though years from being ready for release into the wild, scientists predict that these altered mosquitoes could be up to 99 percent effective in reducing mosquito populations, with no risk of developing resistance to pesticides. Each species of mosquito has to be targeted specifically, but Hawaiʻi has only a handful of invasive mosquitoes, all of which are non-native.

It’s something to think about: Hawaiʻi without mosquitoes, without the threat of dengue, Zika, or chikungunya. And, as an added benefit, Hawaiian forests with a few more native birds.

Until then, continue with mosquito-control efforts: dump standing water, treat bromeliads and other plants that hold water and mosquito larvae, and regularly apply repellent. These actions can help keep these blood-suckers at bay in your backyard.

Read more:

  • Eliminate mosquito breeding sites: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/files/2017/01/Eliminate-Mosquito-Breeding-Sites.pdf
  • Ecological role of mosquitoes: www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html
  • Avian diseases in Hawaiʻi: https://mauiforestbirds.org/avian-disease/

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on February 14th, 2016 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Featured Pest, In the field, Invasive Animals, Kia'i Moku Column, Solutions Tagged With: 2016, Aedes, avian malaria, chikungunya, Culex, dengue, dengue in Hawaii, GMO mosquitoes, mosquitoes in Hawaii, Zika

Fire! Little Fire Ants in Hawaii

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Little fire ants are spreading throughout the state.

First introduced to Puna in 1999, and shortly thereafter to Kaua’i, these ants are one of the worst invasive species imaginable in Hawai’i. They invade houses, gardens, and forests. The ants are also arboreal; they swarm up plants and trees. When disturbed, they drop off, falling onto people and animals. Unsuspecting victims are left with painful stings.

Until recently, little fire ants were limited primarily to Hawai’i Island but as infestations have grown there, so has inevitability of their spread.

In January of 2014 little fire ants were detected on Oʻahu, leading to a multi-agency response resulting in containment and eradication. These tiny pests have hitchhiked to Maui and Lānaʻi as well. Meanwhile, Hawaiʻi Island residents are faced with creating sanctuaries amidst a sea of stinging ants.

This 30 minute documentary examines the spread of the little fire ant and the people who work to address one of the most significant invasive species problems confronting the Islands.

Funding support for this video was provided in part by the Maui Invasive Species Committee and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council.

Filed Under: Invasive Animals, Little Fire Ants, MISC Target Species, News Tagged With: ant documentary, Fire! Little fire ants in Hawaii, LFA video

Deck your hall with boughs of locally harvested plants

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Join the Friends of Haleakalā for their annual pine pull - a chance to remove invasives and take home some locally harvested holiday greenery. Photo by Matt Wordeman.

Join the Friends of Haleakalā for their annual pine pull – a chance to remove invasives and take home some locally harvested holiday greenery. Photo by Matt Wordeman.

Friends' 2014 pine pull - down the hill - Matt wordeman

Collecting pine trees Maui style. Though the snow may be lacking it still warms the heart. Photo by Matt Wordeman

Deck the halls with boughs of….holly? ‘Tis the season to decorate your hale with holiday wreaths, sprigs, and boughs.

Fresh greenery, seeds, and flowers are as much or more a part of this season as pretty paper and bows. Using plants to adorn homes during the winter solstice is a tradition that goes back to ancient times, as many cultures celebrated the return of the sun.  Egyptians filled their homes with palms to celebrate the recovery of Ra, their sun god, from the illness that left the days shorter. Early Romans brought fir trees inside during their solstice feast of Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture. Vikings honored the sun god Balder with pine boughs, and the Druids decorated their temples with evergreen boughs symbolizing everlasting life. Evergreens hold particular significance as they remain fresh throughout the year, no matter the climate.

Traditionally, all of these decorative plants were collected locally. It’s only in today’s era of globalization that our traditions are tied to imported plants and food. This year, consider revising your definition of traditional and decorate with locally grown plants. In doing so, you share your love of Hawaiʻi and help protect our island way of life for future generations.

Pine trees and garlands:
Few decorations are as iconic as the Christmas tree. But almost every year, agricultural inspectors hold and treat or even reject shipments of pines from the mainland because they contain hitchhiking pest species that threaten Hawaiʻi. Each tree is shaken to check for unwanted pests: slugs and yellow jackets are not uncommon, and in 2010 salamanders and Pacific tree frogs were found. The Vespula wasp made its way to our islands via shipments of Christmas trees in the 1970s.

Alternatives:  If you consider evergreens a necessary ingredient for the holidays, you’ll be pleased to know there are locally grown pines available, for sale or for harvest. Each year groups like Friends of Haleakala National Park remove invasive pines from the slopes of Haleakala. Volunteer with them and you and your family can get a free tree. If you missed the December 12th event this year, mark your calendar to check the Friends’ website next year: www.fhnp.org

Wreaths:
A beautiful wreath of fresh foliage welcoming people to your home is a great way to set the tone for the holiday. Whether you create your own or purchase one ready-made, make sure the fresh decorations on your wreath are locally sourced. If you are using the reproductive parts of a plant (seeds or berries) it’s especially important to ensure that you are not helping spread an invasive pest or disease. For example, pampas grass has beautiful feathery plumes, but it’s a pest that the Maui Invasive Species Committee works to remove from Maui. Each plume is filled with thousands of wind-blown seeds that can compromise Maui’s watershed – not the message you want to send from your front door.

Alternatives: Locally grown pines, proteas, succulents, and herbs can be used to create beautiful and sturdy wreaths. If you need a little guidance, several organizations and local businesses have wreath making classes during December; Aliʻi Kula Lavender Farm still has classes so you can create a wreath in time for Christmas: www.aliikulalavender.com.  Locally made wreaths are often available at farmers’ markets.

Houseplants and other vegetation:
Poinsettias are a holiday stable, and a houseplant or orchid is a great gift for the person who has everything.  Purchasing plants from local growers lessens the likelihood that you’ll be giving an unintended gift.

Alternatives: Every year the Agricultural and Natural Resources Class at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College grows poinsettias to sell as a fundraiser. Check the paper or the Facebook page for exact dates. Consider giving a native plant grown on Maui; ask your garden shop where the plants are grown.

Ancient and modern Hawaiians celebrate Makahiki at this time of year, a time of peace, feasting and festival, celebrating the prosperity of the land. It’s a time of family and gathering together, a time of creating and passing along traditions. This year, celebrate the prosperity of the islands and protect it for future generations. Hauʻoli makahiki hou from all of us at the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on December 13th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Get Involved!, In the field, Invasive Plants, Kia'i Moku Column Tagged With: 2015, friends of haleakala, pine tree pull, pine trees on maui

Iguanas on Maui may be more prevalent than we know

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

On Maui, green iguanas, like this one photographed in the French Antilles, are sometimes seen when they come down from trees. Any sightings should be reported to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Photo by Tristan Nicot

On Maui, green iguanas, like this one photographed in the French Antilles, are sometimes seen when they come down from trees. Any sightings should be reported to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Photo by Tristan Nicot.

Chuck Chimera only caught a glimpse of the 3-foot long lizard dining on his neighbor’s nasturtiums, but it was enough. He knew he’d seen more than an abnormally large gecko, skink, or chameleon. “I thought my neighbor was just exaggerating when she said she kept seeing a huge lizard,” said Chimera.

The reptile was four feet long including its tail, and green with spines running down the length of its back. A loose flap of skin hung from its jaw. It turned and scrambled into the bushes with remarkable speed. It was not the first, nor is it likely to be the last iguana sighting on Maui.

In some places, iguanas are popular as pets, but it is illegal to possess a green iguana in Hawaiʻi. Getting caught with one here could mean a fine of up to $200,000. They are a threat to people and to the environment, and any sightings should be reported to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.

Over the last 20 years, keen observers have spotted the large reptiles on the loose in Kāʻanapali, Kanaio, Makawao, Haʻikū, and Kahului. Alert citizens captured two live turned them in to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, one from Kīhei and one from Central Maui, and two dead animals were turned from Makawao.

According to Dr. Fern Duvall of the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, the frequency of these sightings suggests these animals might not merely be escaped contraband pets. He suspects that feral iguanas are breeding in Kanaio, Haʻikū, and the Puu Koliʻi neighborhood in Kāʻanapali. Before people arrived, lizards did not exist on the Islands. These invaders could cause trouble.

Green iguanas are vegetarian lizards native to low-elevation habitats ranging from Mexico through Central America to Brazil and Ecuador. Females lay a clutch of 20-70 eggs each year. In their natural habitat, juvenile iguanas and eggs become food for rats, hawks, owls, snakes, crocodiles, and people. In Central and South America they are a source of meat and called “gallina de palo,” chicken of the trees. They are so popular on dinner tables in Panama that they are protectively managed as a food source.

Iguanas come down from the trees to drink and several iguanas have been seen near reservoirs on Maui. Photo of iguana in Brazil by Charles Sharp.

Iguanas come down from the trees to drink and several iguanas have been seen near reservoirs on Maui. Photo of iguana in Brazil by Charles Sharp.

But Floridians have yet to develop an appetite for this scaly reptile. In South Florida, green iguanas have become so prolific they are serious pests. They eat people’s landscape plants and gardens, dig up sidewalks and seawalls, and sneak into swimming pools–leaving behind smelly scat that can spread salmonella. The exotic lizards spread the seeds of invasive plants and boot Florida burrowing owls from their burrows. These invaders may be preventing the critically endangered Miami blue butterfly from reestablishing in the Florida Keys; they devour the leaves of the nickerbean vine, the butterfly’s host plant.

Hawaiʻi stands to suffer similar problems if the lizards become widely established here.

How could a large, dinosaur-like lizard live amongst us mostly unnoticed? Iguanas are quiet and docile, spending most of their lives in trees. Sightings generally happen when the scaly climbers descend from the trees to bask in the sun or seek out water.

So look twice at lizards in trees or basking in the sun – if it looks like an iguana, try to take a picture and report it. If you can safely capture the animal, do so, but be cautious as iguanas have sharp teeth and can be aggressive when cornered. Don’t confuse an iguana with the common Jackson’s chameleon, a much smaller, 3-toed lizard that is only 7-10 inches in length. Report any iguana sightings to the Maui Branch of the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture: 872-3848 or to the Pest Hotline – 643-PEST. Illegal pets can be turned in through the Department of Agriculture’s Amnesty Program.

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on November 8th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Filed Under: Invasive Animals, Kia'i Moku Column Tagged With: 2015, iguanas on Maui, large lizards on maui

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