first line of defense- early detection of invasive plants and animals on maui

““Eyes and Ears” of Maui Eyes and Ears” of Maui

Early Detection of Invasive Plants Early Detection of Invasive Plants and Animals on Mauiand Animals on Maui

Elizabeth Speith, USGS Pacific Basin Information NodeElizabeth Speith, USGS Pacific Basin Information Node

Lissa Fox, Maui Invasive Species CommitteeLissa Fox, Maui Invasive Species Committee

Pacific Basin Pacific Basin Information NodeInformation Node

https://pbin.nbii.gov

Weed ID Course OverviewWeed ID Course Overview

•Early detection in HawaiiEarly detection in Hawaii

•Plant and Animal IDPlant and Animal ID

• “ “Eyes and Ears” ProgramEyes and Ears” Program

An invasive species is...

An alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (Exec. Order 13112)

Not all alien plant species are invasive.

Not all invasive plants are alien.

Area

Time

# of individuals

Introduction

(Lag time)

Colonization

Naturalization

EARLY DETECTION/

RAPID REPSONSE

PREVENTION

MANAGEMENT

RESTORATION

Phases of Invasion and Associated Control StrategiesPhases of Invasion and Associated Control Strategies

““The easiest, least expensive, The easiest, least expensive, and most successful control and most successful control

programs are those that have programs are those that have detected the invader early.”detected the invader early.”

Early Detection and Rapid Response

- Baseline knowledge of existing pests

- Rapid assessment of new pests

- Limited pest range

- Agency capacity for response

When is When is eradication of eradication of pest plants a pest plants a realistic goal?realistic goal?

M. Rejmánek and M. J. Pitcairn, 2002

Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive Species

Hawaii

Maritime Shipping Paths Across the Pacific

Maritime Shipping Paths Across the Pacific

Hawaii

Island Specific PestsIsland Specific Pests- HI Noxious Weeds and Injurious WildlifeHI Noxious Weeds and Injurious Wildlife

- US Noxious Weeds, Plant Pests, PathogensUS Noxious Weeds, Plant Pests, Pathogens

- Newly naturalized and established pestsNewly naturalized and established pests

ISC Early Detection ISC Early Detection ProgramsPrograms

- Roadside and ‘hotspot” surveys

- Hawaii weed risk assessment

- Outreach programs

- “Eyes and Ears” program

- Hoike o Haleakala

ResidentialNaturalized.011IslandYesVerbascum thapsus

ResidentialNaturalized.11LocalNoSideroxylon persimile

WildlandNaturalized1+5IslandNoPittosporum viridiflorum

WildlandCultivated.011LocalYesMorella faya

WildlandNaturalized.12IslandNoMorella cerifera

ResidentialNot sure.0011IslandYesMelastoma sanguineum

ResidentialCultivated.011IslandYesMaclura pomifera

ResidentialCultivated.012LocalYesMacaranga tanarius

ResidentialCultivated .00012IslandYesMacaranga mappa

ResidentialNot sure.011LocalYesCaesalpinia decapetala

ResidentialNaturalized.11IslandYesAcacia retinodes

ResidentialCultivated.013IslandNoAcacia podalyriifolia

ResidentialNot Sure1+3IslandNoAcacia mangium

ResidentialNot sure1+3IslandNoAcacia auriculiformis

Land UseStatusAcreage

Locations

ScaleControl-led?

Scientific Name

From: EXPERIMENTAL ERADICATIONS OF POTENTIALLY INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI, HAWAII, 2006

Forest Starr, Kim Starr1, and Lloyd L. Loope

- Conservation workers

- Harbor/dock workers

- Teachers

- County Road Crews

- Landscape professionals

- Hikers

- Hunters and Anglers

- General Public

- Utility workers

- Neighborhood Associations

““Eyes and Ears” Early Detection NetworkEyes and Ears” Early Detection Network

Visit: www.reportapest.org

LFA

Little Fire AntLittle Fire Ant((Wasmannia auropunctataWasmannia auropunctata))

Investigate it!Investigate it!Inspect it!Inspect it!Report it!Report it!

Pig blinded from Pig blinded from LFA bitesLFA bites

Entire colony of LFA in a Entire colony of LFA in a Macadamia nutshellMacadamia nutshell

Cacao tree infested Cacao tree infested with LFAwith LFA

Fire ant bitesFire ant bites

LFA Impacts: Quality of life, LFA Impacts: Quality of life, agriculture, and ecologicalagriculture, and ecological

LFA



Location of Survey: (Example- 123 Olinda Rd., Makawao, HI, makai side of garden)

Date (month, date, year):

Collector Name and affliliation:

Collector Phone #:

Observations: Did the ant sting? Is ant slow or fast? Are nests visible?

Finding LFAFinding LFAPeanut butter trapsPeanut butter trapsFinding LFAFinding LFAPeanut butter trapsPeanut butter traps

1) Peanut butter chopstick bait

2) Leave for 2 hours in area that you

suspect LFA

3) Carefully place ant covered chopstick in

ziplock with label

4) Freeze ants overnight

4) Take your ant sample to HDOA at the airport or call MISC 573-PEST to arrange for a pick-up.

Finding LFAFinding LFAPlaces you might find LFAPlaces you might find LFA

WaysidesWaysides New LandscapingNew Landscaping

Nurseries/ Fruit StandsNurseries/ Fruit StandsShipments from infested Shipments from infested

areas of Big Islandareas of Big Island

Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!

Little Fire AntLittle Fire AntLOOK ALIKE!LOOK ALIKE!

Tropical fire antTropical fire ant((Solenopsis geminataSolenopsis geminata))

3-5 mm (1/8-1/4 in)3-5 mm (1/8-1/4 in)


Little Fire AntLittle Fire AntLOOK ALIKE!LOOK ALIKE!

Tetramorium Tetramorium ant ant

((Tetramorium Tetramorium simillimumsimillimum)


Banana Bunchy Top VirusBanana Bunchy Top VirusInvestigate it!Investigate it!Inspect it!Inspect it!Report it!Report it!

With 20 known native varieties still alive on Maui, the Valley Isle is the capital of heirloom bananas. BBTV

endangers these cultural treasures.

Banana Bunchy Top VirusBanana Bunchy Top Virus

BBTV

-Morse CodeMorse Code-Green “J” HooksGreen “J” Hooks

CoquiCoqui((Eleutherodactylus coquiEleutherodactylus coqui))


Coqui Coqui LOOK ALIKE!LOOK ALIKE!

Greenhouse frogGreenhouse frog((EleutherodactyluEleutherodactylu

s planirostriss planirostris)


Jubata GrassJubata Grass ( (Cortaderia Cortaderia species)species)


Dark greenDark green leaves leaves (C. jubata)(C. jubata)Both are sharply toothed and can cut when rubbed the wrong way!Both are sharply toothed and can cut when rubbed the wrong way!

Narrow bluish-green leavesNarrow bluish-green leaves (C. selloana) (C. selloana)

Jubata GrassJubata Grass ( (Cortaderia Cortaderia species)species)



Grows in a bunchGrows in a bunch

Fountain GrassFountain GrassPennisetum setaceumPennisetum setaceum

Fountain GrassFountain GrassPennisetum setaceumPennisetum setaceum


Red flowers shaped like a Red flowers shaped like a bottle-cleaning brushbottle-cleaning brush


Fountain Grass Fountain Grass LOOK-ALIKE!LOOK-ALIKE!

Red Fountain Grass Red Fountain Grass (Pennisetum macrostachyum)(Pennisetum macrostachyum)

Molasses grass Molasses grass (Melinus minutiflora)(Melinus minutiflora)

Ivy GourdIvy GourdCoccinia grandis


- Star shaped flowers- Star shaped flowers- Red Fruit 1-3 in long- Red Fruit 1-3 in long

Ivy GourdIvy GourdCoccinia grandis


Variable leavesVariable leaves


Ivy GourdIvy Gourd LOOK-ALIKE!LOOK-ALIKE!

Bitter melonBitter melon

(Momordica charantia)(Momordica charantia)

Rubber VineRubber VineCryptostegia spp.


- Purple funnel shaped flowers- Purple funnel shaped flowers-Glossy leavesGlossy leaves

- Produce white latex sapProduce white latex sap

Rubber VineRubber VineCryptostegia spp.



Rubber VineRubber Vine LOOK-ALIKE!LOOK-ALIKE!

Purple AlamandaPurple Alamanda

(Allamanda violacea)(Allamanda violacea)

Brazilian jasmineBrazilian jasmine

(Mandevilla sanderi)(Mandevilla sanderi)

BECOME MAUI’S EYES AND EARS!

WWW.REPORTAPEST.ORGWWW.REPORTAPEST.ORG

Don’t plant a pest.• Avoid planting any plant that may potentially

become invasive. Use the HAWAII WEED RISK ASSESSMENT

• Carefully inspect plants before purchasing to ensure they are free from unwanted pests.

• Remove invasive plants and animals on your property.

Don’t buy a pest.• Do not import, plant, sell, or move invasive plants

and animals in, around, or off island.• Report locations where invasive species are

growing or for sale.• Use non-invasive and native plants in your

landscape.Keep pets contained.• Do not release pets into the wild – keep parrots and

rabbits caged.• Don’t dump aquarium pets or plants.• Turn in unwanted aquarium pets or plants to a pet

store.

What can we do?

What can we do?Protect Hawai‘i.• Clean your hiking boots, equipment and vehicles

before you go into a native area and after hikes in infested areas.

Spread the word.• Share what you learn with your friends and

neighbors.

THANKS!THANKS!Elizabeth Speith, USGS-Pacific Basin Information Elizabeth Speith, USGS-Pacific Basin Information

Node, [email protected], 984-3716Node, [email protected], 984-3716

Lissa Fox, Maui Invasive Species Committee, 573-Lissa Fox, Maui Invasive Species Committee, 573-MISCMISC

Spread the Word, Not the Weed

first line of defense- early detection of invasive plants and animals on maui

Education

island of maui

lfa little

ant bites

ant look

ant sample

ant sting

ant slow

lfa bites lfa impacts