Pest Management Expert to Speak to Landscape Association

Arnold H. Hara, Ph.D. Entomologist. Photo courtesy of MALP.

By Sonia Isotov

On September 20, the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP) is hosting a free presentation by University of Hawaii at Hilo Entomologist Arnold H. Hara, Ph.D.

Dr. Hara will discuss the various options of insect control such as, biological control, systemic insecticides, and insect growth regulators, decision making on how best to treat insect infestations, and examples of recent problem insects and their best control methods.

As a graduate faculty member of the Department of Entomology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Dr. Hara is stationed at the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station (Beaumont Agricultural Research Center) and the Cooperative Extension Service in Hilo, Hawaii, known collectively as the Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (HITAHR). He is an ornamental entomologist focusing on the development of pest management programs for tropical floricultural crops such as anthuriums, orchids, flowering gingers, birds of paradise, heliconia, protea and foliage (palms, dracaena). Dr. Hara specializes in developing postharvest treatments of export floricultural crops to meet stringent interstate and foreign quarantine regulations.

The meeting will be held on September 20, starting with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and presentation at 7:00 pm in the Maui Community Service Building on the UH Maui College campus. Landscapers, turf professionals and the public are invited to attend. For more information, visit the MALP website at http://www.malp.org/.