West Hawaii Today, Friday, April 21, 2006

West Hawaii Today, Saturday, March 18, 2006 Agriculture develops interisland protocol - Brad Ballesteros | Special To West Hawaii Today Agriculture develops interisland protocol Goal is stopping spread of pest to neighbor islands in state Hawaii Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch is confronting its greatest challenge -- developing protocol to prevent the spread of coqui frogs via plant material. "There's a need to identify the pathways before the population blooms further on the Big Island and the infestations spread across the state," said Domingo Cravalho Jr., an invertebrate and aquatic biota specialist for the Plant Quarantine Branch. These dime-size amphibians from Puerto Rico are often associated with propagative plant shipments that spread from one infested island location to another within the state. Such shipments of this invasive species have the potential to cause harm to the state's environment and economy, Cravalho said. There's a need to identify the pathways before the population blooms further on the Big Island and the infestations spread across the state," said Domingo Cravalho Jr., an invertebrate and aquatic biota specialist for the Plant Quarantine Branch. These dime-size amphibians from Puerto Rico are often associated with propagative plant shipments that spread from one infested island location to another within the state. Such shipments of this invasive species have the potential to cause harm to the state's environment and economy, Cravalho said. The Hawaiian Islands have a high population of endemic species, which coqui frogs can threaten. These noisy amphibians have an indiscriminate appetite for insects, tiny spiders and mites. Scientists are concerned the frogs are directly competing with rare, native birds for insect prey. In September 2001, the Board of Agriculture designated the coqui frog as a pest. The Department of Agriculture recently composed a draft policy for the intrastate movement of propagative plant materials. It seeks to prevent coqui frogs from relocating or becoming permanent Hawaii residents. The public may submit comments regarding the policy to the Plant Quarantine Branch until March 31. "It's an ongoing process. So far, I haven't heard any firm commitments, disagreements or suggestions," Cravalho said. "We need to work together. I can't help you get rid of the problem if you don't tell me what is happening. We want to develop protocol that is comfortable for everybody." The state's $88 million nursery trade is often viewed as both the victim and perpetrator in the spread of coqui frogs, Cravalho said. Many people warned state and county governments that unless interisland deliveries of plants are treated to kill coqui frogs, all the main Hawaiian Islands could become as infested as the Big Island, where most experts concede there is little chance of eradication. Department of Agriculture completed coqui surveys of certified nurseries on the Big Island, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. State officials discovered the dun-colored frogs in two nurseries on Oahu and one population on Kauai. Maui has the potential to be next, Cravalho said. Typically, Department of Agriculture conducts 25 to 30 visual inspections of plant shipments per month. It also tries to focus on one state-certified Big Island nursery whose plant shipments were infested with coqui frogs. Certified nurseries without an identified coqui problem are currently allowed to "self-certify" their shipments as coqui-free, Cravalho said. State law prohibits the release, transport or export of coqui frogs, which are classified as "injurious wildlife." The first offense receives a $250 fine, while fines for repeat offenses range from $500 to $25,000. Under the proposed policy, any propagative plant shipment destined to another island within the state would be inspected and certified by the Plant Quarantine Branch prior to delivery to the transportation carrier. If the Plant Quarantine Branch deems a commodity free of frogs, a transportation carrier can move it to another island. However, the draft states the shipment may be subject to random, periodic inspections at the next port of destination. Shipments infested with coqui frogs will be rejected for interisland movement, returned to the shipper and subjected to an approved treatment under the Plant Quarantine Branch or confiscated and destroyed at the expense of the shipper. Approved treatments include citric acid anhydrous and hot water shower. Inspectors will use a 16 percent solution of citric acid in water, which is applied as a spray or drench to the shipment. The plants will endure an exposure period of no less than 60 minutes before being washed with fresh water to avoid plant damage. In a 24-foot container, officials will retrofit a thermal treatment system, which drenches the shipment with a hot water shower at a constant temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of five minutes. Non commercial shipments of less than 12 propagative plants will undergo a 100 percent visual inspection by a state inspector. Individual potted plants must be free of all leaf litter and debris. The potting media and root system may be inspected; coqui frogs and their eggs are so small that they can travel under leaves and in crevices between the pot and soil, Cravalho said. Uncertified nurseries are considered high-risk for coqui frogs and their shipments will be rejected for interisland movement, inspected and undergo the approved treatment. The Plant Quarantine Branch would conduct night survey inspections of certified nurseries and other growing areas for coqui frogs. If no frogs are detected, the certified nursery is considered "low risk and apparently free of coqui frogs." At a public meeting held in Kailua-Kona and Hilo, growers complained of extra paperwork and costs required under the proposal. But none disputed the actions in the policy should be instituted, Cravalho said. Get involved - To view the proposed policy online, visit http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa. - Send all comments or suggestions to: Plant Quarantine Branch; 1849 Auiki Street; Honolulu, HI 96819. - For more information, contact Domingo Cravalho Jr., an invertebrate and aquatic biota specialist for the Plant Quarantine Branch, at 832-0577 or Domingo.Cravalho@hawaii.gov.

West Hawaii Today, Sunday, Feburary 26, 2006 Coqui frogs: Coming soon to a neighborhood near you by Mark Mcguffie Special To West Hawaii Today It was 1988. Paul Simon's "Graceland" album won the Grammy as best record of the year. "The Last Emperor" won an Academy Award as best picture and, it was the year coqui came to Hawaii. Today, Hawaii Island has the not-so-distinguished notoriety of having the most infestations of coqui frogs in the state, with more than 5,000 acres of "core" infestation and hundreds of populations identified throughout the island. In January, Hawaii County, along with island legislators and community representatives, announced a legislative package to increase efforts in the battle against the noisy, non-native invader. Within the package is a request for a $2 million appropriation to implement the coqui frog working group action plan. While those very public initiatives are moving forward, less lauded efforts may be having the most effect. Dr. William Mautz from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Dr. Arnold Hara from University of College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources are studying the ecological impact of the frogs on Hawaiian forests while also researching the biological characteristics of coquis both here and in Puerto Rico. According to Mautz, "Any hope of a biological solution must be highly tempered. Think back to the mongoose and other introduced 'biological solutions' that only resulted in introduction of another pest. Species of frog-eating snakes, for example, could be a biological solution for coqui, but of course these are not something we'd ever want to intentionally introduce to Hawaii. Biological solutions for vertebrates are very difficult to find." Mautz and Hara are working with a UH-Hilo graduate student who has spent time in Puerto Rico, the coqui country of origin, studying its native habitat. There, coqui predators include large spiders, scorpions, birds and snakes. While they have seen the occasional rat here eat a coqui, and chickens can be introduced to the frog and will eat them, there is no real predator that will eat enough of the coqui or its eggs to control, let alone eradicate, now well-imbedded populations. Hawaii forests' dense undergrowth of leaves provides ideal shelter. A'a lava in Lava Tree State Park and elsewhere, with its holes, nooks and crannies, provides perfect nesting areas for egg-bearing females that can lay up to 1,400 eggs each year. Bearing appellations such as the Tiny Game Hunters, Coqui Squad, Coqui Coalition and Coqui Croakers, communities islandwide have organized to control coqui and there are success stories. Spraying either citric acid or hydrated lime, (calcium hydroxide), is effective in eradication of new, small populations before those populations become unmanageable. The County of Hawaii, USDA and Department of Agriculture currently have a variety of trailer tank sprayers ranging from 100 to 400 gallon capacity for use by community members. Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, with a grant from Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, has purchased eight more sprayers and additional chemicals. To schedule a sprayer, call the USDA at 933-6955 or the county at 961-8066. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee also has a matching program for citric acid. Other solutions that have proven viable are use of PVC or bamboo traps. This solution involves no chemicals, is passive, the device is long lasting and cheap. It can be a workable homeowner technique to help prevent coqui invasion. Since coqui seek sheltered, moist, dark areas to lay their hatch of eggs, PVC or bamboo, when strategically staked off the ground, becomes a habitat. Frequent inspection of the traps and proper disposal of any eggs can prevent spread of the pest. A hot-shower for incoming potted plants is an excellent tool for homeowners to ensure incoming plants are coqui-free. A three-minute shower using water that is 113 degrees Fahrenheit will force hiding frogs to jump and will prevent eggs from hatching. Frogs that attempt to flee should be captured and disposed of properly. A brief cooling shower afterwards revives the plant. The coqui problem continues. Its economic impact today and in the future is unfathomable. Businesses and communities must adopt zero tolerance policies and procedures with education to reinforce the importance of the issue. This is not a visitor you want coming to your neighborhood. Mark McGuffie is executive director of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. Readers with comments, questions or suggestions should visit http://www.hiedb.org, e-mail info@hiedb.org or call HIEDB 935-2180. More information - HIEDB Coqui Project Manager, Andrea Dean, 889-5806. - Hawaii County Coqui Coordinator, Howard Lontoc, 961-8066. - Invasive Species Hotline, 961-3299.

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