Ask the Mayor: Is There a Coqui Frog Imposter on Maui?

Greenhouse frog: PC: Pierre Fidenci – http://calphotos.berkeley.edu, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6094482

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: I live in East Maui and have heard the loud chirping of the coqui frog before; however, there is another tiny frog making sounds right outside my house that seem to be new. It is much softer sound and I caught a glimpse of one outside before it hopped off and it seemed to be just as small as the coqui.

Is there another invasive frog species here?

A: My staff did a little research and according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, there is a look-alike frog that is also very small called the greenhouse frog, and the sound is much softer, described as “cricket-like vocalization” according to the DLNR website.

If you can capture the frog turn it into the Maui Invasive Species Committee by calling (808) 573-6472 or emailing miscpr@hawaii.edu.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, (808) 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

This column originally appeared in publication on Feb. 13, 2013.