#invasive species maui

The Friends of Haleakalā National Park seeks National Park Service volunteers who are enthusiastic and fit for a strenuous three-night backpacking service trip into the parkʻs Wilderness Areas Tuesday to Thursday, Dec. 10 to 12.

Seventeen live coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae were found Tuesday by an arborist cutting down coconut palm trees in Kīhei. The arborist called the Maui Invasive Species Committee, and reported that he was contracted to remove 12 dead palm trees and found several large larvae in the crown of the first palm tree he cut down.

The new interim rule follows the first detection of CRB on Maui three weeks ago, when a dead adult CRB was found in a bag of compost shipped from O‘ahu at a Maui retailer. No other CRB has been detected on Maui. However, the efforts to restore the land and soil on Maui and Hawai‘i Island due to the wildfire damage have increased shipments of compost and organic landscaping material from O‘ahu, increasing the risk of the transport of CRB to non-infested areas.

One dead coconut rhinoceros beetle was found on Monday among compost bags at a Maui big-box store, by staff from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.

If red-vented bulbuls become established on Maui, they pose a severe threat to native forest ecosystems and Mauiʻs watersheds. 

Feb. 1 marks the start of Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month. State officials say invasive species have devastating effects on Hawaiʻi’s agriculture, food self-sufficiency, freshwater quality and quantity, human health, and on the health of native species and ecosystems.

A outbreak of invasive coqui frogs reported in plants outside the Home Depot store in Kahului on Tuesday night, was identified and assessed before sunrise thanks to a social media post and rapid response from community members and experienced field workers.

A community meeting is slated for tonight in East Maui where one of two new infestations of little fire ants were discovered last month.

An estimated 2,000 samples were collected and the little fire ant infestation is estimated to be 12 acres in Kapalua, though that acreage may increase as further surveys are conducted.

“The Maui View” talk show will be televised on Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. on AKAKU Channel 55. Hosted by Sharon Zalsos, the show will explore efforts to combat invasive species.

The Hōlua cabin and campground area at Haleakalā National Park will close for invasive ant control on Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10, 2015.

“We appreciate the reports, and also our residents’ willingness to help clean up the debris,” said Ward. “Please continue to report debris, especially large quantities, unusual items, large items and materials that may be hazardous.”

New infestations of the invasive little fire ant have been found in Huelo and Haʻikū, prompting a community update meeting on Maui tonight.

This week marks the start of the 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Week. In observance, state agencies and private partners working to rid the islands of these damaging species are highlighting 10 particularly bad offenders.

Little fire ants have been found in Huelo following a survey conducted by the Maui Invasive Species Committee on Friday, Jan. 16.

A new infestation of little fire ants has been confirmed in a large forested area of Nāhiku in East Maui. Authorities say the infested area covers at least 20 acres along the Hāna Highway, according to initial estimates.

The infestation was confirmed in late May, and covered an area about 400 square feet. The invasive species was first detected on Maui in late December of 2013 on hāpuʻu logs found in a retail store.

Mayor Arakawa said the request “falls right in line” with the discovery of an invasion of little fire ants on Maui that were found on hāpuʻu ferns shipped to Maui via distributors at Lowe’s and Home Depot on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Department of Agriculture has obtained approval to release the Arctiidae moth to combat the spread of Fireweed, an invasive pest that is toxic to livestock.

Biologists will be conducting work to control an infestation of Argentine Ants, an invasive species from South America that impacts native insects and plants.