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Status on Molokai: Fireweed has been found on Molokai and is known to be present in pastures and along disturbed roadsides across the island. Fireweed is not a Target Pest for MoMISC. If you have identified Fireweed and would like to safely remove and dispose of the plant, please follow the steps below and see additional resource links at the bottom of this page.

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*Bagged plants can be safely disposed with household trash at the landfill*

 

Current Status on Molokai

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) has not yet been detected on Molokai. The MoMISC crew actively sets and monitors CRB traps at the Molokai Airport with no captures to report. So far, CRB has only been detected on the island of Oahu where control efforts are underway.

Harm:

• Adult CRB bore into the crowns of coconut palms to eat developing leaves
• CRB damaged palm fronds have distinct geometric notching, appearing to have been cut by scissors
• The damage to palms and their fronds can outright kill the tree or leave it susceptible to disease
• Grubs can be spread through green waste transfer
• Adults can spread through flight, hitchhiking and in high wind events
• Threatens the endemic and endangered fan palms, Loulu
• CRB also pose threats to all oil palms, pandanus trees, and banana trees

Description:

• Adult coconut rhinoceros beetles can grow to be between 1 t0 2 inches in length and are solid black in color
• All CRB will have a horn on it’s head, though the male’s horn is more than twice as long as the female’s (see photo above)
• CRB eggs are laid and develop inside rotting coconut logs, mulch or compost piles
• Hatched grubs are C-shaped and grow to be between 2.3-4.1 inches long
• Grubs will feed on decaying wood and organic material for about 4-6 months before pupating
  

  

• After pupating for about two weeks, adults emerge (see photo below)
• Adult CRB are active at night and can for about 4-9 months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Status on Molokai

There are currently no known populations of Little Fire Ants on Molokai.

Since the discovery of Little Fire Ants (LFA) on the Big Island in 1999, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has enacted quarantine regulations to prevent the shipment of potted plants infested with little fire ant from the Big Island to other islands.

PLEASE REPORT ANY LFA SUSPICIONS ON MOLOKAI IMMEDIATELY! CALL LORI BUCHANAN at (808) 336-0625 —- or EMAIL: molokaiinvasive@gmail.com —- or call Statewide pest hotline at (808) 643-PEST

Description:

• This ant is orange-red to light brown in color, all workers are 1.5 mm in length (half the size of a sesame seed, or as long as a penny is thick, about 1/16 “)
• Slow-moving, easily dislodged from leaves, plants, and trees
• Prefers moist conditions, forming colonies on the ground AND in trees
• Native to Central and South America, LFA were accidentally introduced as hitchhikers on imported plants

Harm:

• Delivers a painful sting when disturbed. Welts can last for weeks
• Infests agricultural fields and farms, where they damage crops and sting workers
• Promotes plant pests such as aphids, white flies and scale insects, which secrete plant sap that the ants eat. In turn, the ants protect these insects from natural predators and parasites.
• Easily blown out of trees, stinging when they get are caught in hair or clothing.
• Infests homes, beds, furniture and food
• Has been linked to corneal clouding and blindness in pets
• In the Galapagos, LFA attack tortoise hatchlings and sting the eyes of adult tortoises
• Infest bee hives, preying on the larvae and eventually destroy the hive.
• Large infestations are difficult and expensive to control

How to Survey for LFA:

1. Smear a thin coat of peanut butter on one end of a disposable chopstick or popsicle stick. (A thick coat is no more attractive to ants and only makes identification more difficult).  If you are allergic to peanuts, use small pieces of luncheon meat and tongs to retrieve the pieces.
2. Place sticks in shady areas in, around, and on plants, including potted plants. For a thorough survey, place at least three sticks per plant, and/or one stick every two feet. Leave the sticks out for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Carefully pick up the sticks (so the ants don’t fall off!), and seal them in a plastic bag.  Write your name, contact number, and the date on the bag and freeze for 24 hours to kill the ants. An address is helpful, but not required.
4. Just because you have ants, doesn’t mean they are little fire ants.  Some ants are look-alikes and require an expert to identify them.  Turn in ALL ant samples for identification and peace of mind.
5. Ant samples can be turned in to MoMISC (call or email to set up) or sent by postal mail directly to: Hawai`i Ant Lab,  16 E. Lanikaula St, Hilo HI 96720

Click Here to Request a Free Test Kit from Hawaii Ant Lab

Additional Resources:

Hawaii Ant Lab https://littlefireants.com/

CTAHR LFA Poster

 

Rabbits are not illegal to keep in Hawaii but they are required by law to be housed in hutches off the ground

State Law Citation: “§142-95  Rabbits, Belgian hares, to be kept off ground; penalty.  Any person who breeds, raises or keeps rabbits or Belgian hares shall keep them off the ground.

     Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. [L 1957, c 298, §§1, 2; Supp, §20-94; HRS §142-95]”

Did you know that rabbits can be spayed or neutered?

Rabbits are prolific reproducers. If not managed properly, populations can get out of control very quickly. If keeping rabbits as pets please consider having them spayed or neutered. If keeping rabbits as livestock please consider keeping the males and females separated to manage the rate of reproduction.