#KISC

A community report to the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee last month led to the collection of a single live ramie moth (Arcte coerula) caterpillar, the first detection of the invasive pest on Kauaʻi. This pest poses a threat to native invertebrates such as the Kamehameha butterfly and native snails by competing for the same plants.

A live mongoose has been captured on Kauaʻi, where the invasive species does not have an established population. In a multiagency effort to prevent mongoose establishment, members of the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee captured the animal at Nāwiliwili Small Boat Harbor on Friday morning, Sept. 5.

Two coconut rhinoceros beetles were found on Kaua‘i, in traps near a green waste transfer station close to the Līhu‘e Airport, agricultural officials said. These are the first detections of CRB (Oryctes rhinoceros) outside of O‘ahu. 

A live mongoose was captured on Kauaʻi at Nāwiliwili Harbor on Friday morning, and handed over to the state Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services for analysis.

“The location of this LFA population is concerning because of its proximity to the Wailua River. LFA can “raft” along waterways allowing them to spread far greater distances,” said Curt Cottrell, Administrator of the DLNR Division of State Parks.