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Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee Update: October – December 2020

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Lissa Strohecker

As the MoMISC field crew was conducting roadside surveys in south-central Molokai last December, they found a surprise: saplings of the invasive Ficus religiosa (Bo tree) sprouting from the crook of a mango tree. Because ficus can spread so readily, the crew conducted roadside surveys across hundreds of acres near this invasive fig. Good news – they found no other plants! Roadside surveys help with the early detection of pests and create an opportunity for community education and outreach.

  • Surveys on Molokai

Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) is now established in Kualapu’u, Ho’olehua, Pala’au, and more recently, Maunaloa. Previous to the December 2020 detection of BBTV, there had only been one other known occurrence of BBTV in the Kaunakakai/Kawela area and none so far in East Molokai. Banana aphids spread the disease from plant to plant, but the only way the virus can move long-distance is when people move plants. The best way to keep banana populations free of BBTV is to avoid transporting banana plants, plant parts, or planting materials from a known BBTV infestation to an area without BBTV. 

Other Molokai highlights include: 

Mule’s foot fern (Angiopteris evecta): Staff surveyed over 40 acres within the Molokai Forest Reserve area, controlling five mature and 13 immature plants. Known for its rounded trunk and gigantic leaves, mules’ foot fern is a pest species that MoMISC continues to monitor and control in the forests of Molokai. 

Quail bush (Atriplex lentiformis): The crew surveyed 1,310 acres of roadside from Maunaloa to Hālawa (nearly one end of the island to the other). These surveys resulted in zero detections — a promising sign that control efforts worked and the species is in decline. Quail bush is adaptive to various environments and habitat conditions. On Molokai, this species invades roadside areas across the island.

MoMISC crews plan to revisit the known rubber vine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis) sites across the island, removing any new or previously undetected plants. Staff will continue testing for little fire ants and monitoring coconut rhinoceros beetle traps at ports of entry. In preparation for the potential threat of coffee-leaf rust (recently detected on Maui), crews will compile archived data and collect information on populations of wild coffee on Molokai.

  • Quail bush is a roadside pest on Molokai. The MoMISC crew surveyed 1,310 acres of roadside looking for this plant with no detections!

You can find all past updates here: UPDATES

Other species updates from this quarter are below:

Outreach and Education Update: October – December 2020
Early Detection Crew Update: October – December 2020
Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee Update: October – December 2020
Hāna Plant Crew Update: October – December 2020
Pāʻia Plant Crew Update: October – December 2020
Little Fire Ant Crew Update: October – December 2020
Community Coqui Control Program Update: October – December 2020
Coqui Crew Update: October – December 2020

Filed Under: Update Tagged With: MoMISC, Oct-Dec 20

Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee -September 2020

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Lissa Strohecker

Removing upside-down jellyfish from Kaunakakai harbor sometimes takes partners, as when DLNR divers helped out several years ago.

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 ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More
Coqui Crew – September 2020
From July through September, the coqui crew worked throughout Haʻikū on populations of frogs near the Kauhikoa Reservoir, the Five ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More

All Updates

Filed Under: Update Tagged With: MoMISC, September 2020

MoMISC – April/May 2020

Posted on May 27, 2020 by MISC

Among other tasks, the Mo/MISC crew is working on species that can be addressed while maintaining physical distancing like surveying for the invasive Australian Tree Fern, as demonstrated in this photo from 2019.

The crew of the Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee has adjusted fieldwork to reflect the Covid-19 guidelines: starting in April, they check- in on Zoom, rather than in person.  Staff completed online training and learning new skills through webinars from presenters across the state while all the necessary PPE was being obtained. Fast forward to May and things are starting to look a little brighter (and sweatier). Thanks to MISC staff and volunteers, MoMISC was able to get the PPE needed to resume some types of fieldwork. The MoMISC staff have identified several target species that can be worked on while keeping compliant with current safe working guidelines. After updating procedures, the crew is back in the field surveying for coconut rhinoceros beetle (not yet detected outside Oʻahu)  and tracking down infestations of rubber vine and Australian tree ferns, all activities that can be done while maintaining social distancing guidelines.  

On Molokai, one major impact of Covid-19 was that it highlighted the island’s food security vulnerabilities. One outcome is a renewed enthusiasm for home gardening among residents. In recognizing this, MoMISC outreach will be submitting press releases to the local newspaper that highlight invasive species as a major threat to both food security and agriculture and provide helpful tips for home gardeners on making conscientious planting choices, exchanging plants, and suggestions for sourcing material for the home.

Filed Under: Update Tagged With: April/May 2020, MoMISC

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Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)
Office: (808) 573-6472
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Acting Manager / Public Relations: Lissa Strohecker
E-mail: miscpr@hawaii.edu

Special Projects: Teya Penniman
E-mail: miscmgr@hawaii.edu

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