Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)

DEVIL WEED CREW CHALLENGE 2022! Begins August 1st, 2022.

SWAG BY THE MILE

Flowering season is fast approaching, so we want to find and remove as many devil weeds plants we can before they start spreading seeds this winter.

Challenge begins August 1st. Send your survey data to OISC to start racking up your miles! 

  • SURVEY   5 MILES:  the first 25 people that accumulate 5 miles get a free hat!
  • SURVEY 15 MILES:  the first 12 people that accumulate 15 miles get a free 20oz stainless steel tumbler!
  • SURVEY 20 MILES:  the first 5 people that accumulate 20 miles get a free t-shirt that you can customize. Choose your shirt color, logo color and placement!
DWC CHALLENGE 2022
First 12 people that survey 15 MILES receive a 20oz tall, skinny stainless steel tumbler.
The first 5 people that survey 20 MILES get to customize their own DWC t-shirt.
The first 5 people that survey 20 MILES get to customize their own DWC t-shirt.
The first 25 people that survey 5 MILES get a free OISC hat.
Request your devil weed field ID and receive a sticker…happy hiking/hunting! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DevilWeedGuide

HOW TO SURVEY & SEND YOUR DATA:

  1. ORDER YOUR FREE DEVIL WEED FIELD ID GUIDE.
  2. PICK A TRAIL TO SURVEY.
  3. USE ALLTRAILS APP TO RECORD YOUR SURVEY.
  4. IF FIND PLANTS, PULL THEM OUT AND TAKE WAYPOINTS ON ALLTRAILS (COORDINATES).
  5. WHEN FINISHED, SEND YOUR SURVEY TO OISC! EMAIL: OISC@HAWAII.EDU OR TEXT: 808-286-4616. *IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN JUST SEND THE GPX FILE OF YOUR SURVEY.

For more details, visit the devil weed crew volunteer page or feel free to email us at: oisc@hawaii.edu.

ROD on Oahu

Send photos and locations of sick/dying ??hi?a CLICK HERE TO REPORT!

ROD Symptoms in ??hi?a trees = brown leaves attached

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Healthy ??hi?a

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Rapid ??hi?a Death (ROD) Detections on O?ahu (as of March 2022) CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED MAP

  • Over 356 ??hi?a trees have been sampled to test for the presence of ROD.
  • Only nine (9) trees have tested positive for the lessaggressiveROD fungus, Ceratocystis huliohia.
    • Of the positive trees; 4 are residential locations, 5 are wildland locations.
  • There have been no detections of the very aggressive species, Ceratocystis lukuohia on O’ahu.

What Should You Do To Prevent the Spread of ROD?

  • Don’t injure ??hi?a trees.
  • Clean soil from shoes and tools and spray with 70% rubbing alcohol if can.
  • Don’t move ??hi?a logs or plant parts.
  • Don’t transport ʻōhiʻa inter-island.
  • Wash any vehicles/bikes that have been off-road with high pressure hose.

HOW TO COLLECT & SUBMIT ʻŌHIʻA SAMPLES TO TEST FOR ROD – for Land Managers and Conservation Field Staff

OISC and DOFAW are the primary organizations surveying and sampling for ROD on Oʻahu. We are limited with time and staff. Assistance from land managers and conservation field workers to collect samples from suspect trees is needed. Collecting samples from dead/dying ‘ōhiʻa trees is easy and we can show you how prepare your team to sample ʻōhiʻa suspect trees they may come across when working in the field.

We can “train the trainer”, showing you how to collect samples, properly decontaminate your tools and self, and proper way to submit your wood samples for testing. We sample at least once a month, so contact us via email to arrange your training: oisc@hawaii.edu.

Resources for land managers and field staff to collect & submit suspect ROD samples.

What is ROD?

Rapid ??hi?a Death (ROD) is a fungal pathogen new to science not ever seen before 2014. There are two (2) species of ROD:

  1. Ceratocystis lukuohia – VERY aggressive and rapid death as occurs in as little as two weeks.
  2. Ceratocystis huliohia – Less aggressive and death can take many months.

Quick Facts About ROD:

  • Symptoms of ROD are dead or dying ??hi?a trees with brown leaves still attached.
  • Both species of ROD present the same symptoms: brown leaves on branches or entire tree.
  • ROD fungus lived INSIDE the tree, you cannot see it on leaves, branches or flowers.
  • ROD enters the ??hi?a tree through a wound…do not injure ??hi?a trees.
  • If you see suspect ROD, send photos to OISC via email: oisc@hawaii.edu or text to: 808-286-4616.
  • You can also always report using the free smartphone app: 643PEST

A variety of things can kill ʻōhiʻa trees and we canʻt know if itʻs ROD unless we get a sample of the wood from inside the tree. You cannot see ROD on leaves or branches…it grows inside the sapwood. This is where the tree moves water around. When the fungus plugs up the sapwood, no water can be moved and the leaves turn brown.

About ??hi?a

ʻŌhiʻa is the dominant canopy forest tree in the state with over 350 million trees across 800,000 on all the main Hawaiian islands. It is a keystone species, meaning itʻs integral to the ecosystem and the services they provide like clean water, water capture, as well as flood and erosion control. ʻŌhiʻa is also significant to Hawaiian culture and represented in numerous hula, mo?olelo, mele and oli. There are five species of ??hi?a in Hawai?i. They are all endemic to our state, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world…and two of those five are endemic to Oʻahu island! You can see ʻōhiʻa in yards and in the forest.

For more details about ROD and ??hi?a, visit: www.rapidohiadeath.org

October Is Stop The Ant Month in Hawai‘i

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST YOUR FREE ANT COLLECTION KIT!

October is “Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant Month” in Hawai‘i. This campaign is being conducted state-wide to educate residents of the threats posed by invasive ants like little fire ant, especially the painful stings to our families and the blindness LFA causes in pets. We are asking for your help to participate in early detection surveys by collecting and submitting ant samples to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture or OISC for identification. By testing once a year, you can ensure that you are either LFA-free or find the ants while the infestation is still small enough to eradicate.

Collecting ants is easy…just need some sticks and peanut butter. 

To see the status of LFA detections on O‘ahu and other islands, CLICK HERE

What are little fire ants, and why are they so bad?

Unless you’ve encountered the wrath of these tiny pests, you may ask “what’s the big deal?”.  Well, among all of the world’s invasive pests – the plants, animals, insects, bacteria…LFA have top-chart billing as one of the world’s worst 100 invasive species.

Little fire ants (LFA) are native to Central & South America, but have been spreading across the Pacific, damaging the envrionmnent, economy and the quality of life of those subjected to their stings. LFA sting the eyes of pets, leading to blindness.  LFA damage crops, food production, and the economy everywhere they have spread. LFA alter (or impact) people’s lives because their stings are unavoidable.

Doesn’t Hawaii already have fire ant? How are LFA different?

Many of us have been stung by the common Tropical Fire Ants, which nest in the ground in sunny fields and beach parks.  These are NOT the same as Little Fire Ants. LFA is a very tiny ant-about as long as a penny is thick and prefer shady, moist areas. They can nest in the trees and on the ground. LFA’s sting packs a wallop and when they fall out of trees, a person gets multiple stings all at once.

LFA have been detected on all main Hawaiian Islands except Molokai, and are only established on the Big Island. The Hawaii Ant Lab is based in Hilo and conducts research on invasive ant impacts, prevention and treatment methods, and eradication plans. They provide resources and information for the public and work closely with the residents of Big Island to best manage little fire ant infestations around their homes.

Early detection is key to preventing LFA from establishing.

LFA are established in areas on the Big Island and it’s highly unlikely there will be an island-wide eradication, but finding them early significantly increases chances of spreading across the island, as well as between all the islands.  When infestations become larger, costs increase dramatically and the chances of successful eradication are also much lower.

On Oahu, the residents of Mililani Mauka were crucial to the success of eliminating the infestation there. A resident brought samples to HDOA after being stung and because of this, the infestation was discovered while it was relatively small. Equally important, all the neighbors allowed staff on their property to test for and to treat the ants.

We need your help!!

LFA can spread across an island and move between islands in any materials – including fresh fruit, cut flowers, potted plants, household items and vehicles. The best way to help is to test your yard for little fire ant at least once a year. It’s quick, easy and a fun activity to do with kids. There are written instructions and a video explaining how to test at the website www.stoptheant.org.  

OISC Outreach & Education

OISC is available to host live webinars for both virtual classrooms or community meetings. We also have on-demand webinars and educational worksheets and games for keiki.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Reach out to us and we can accommodate your remote learning needs.

To schedule a live webinar for your classroom or community meeting, contact OISC via email: oisc@hawaii.edu or call 808-286-4616.

  • Educational Resources: Resources for teacher and parents include on-demand webinars, activity worksheets and downloadable lesson plans.
  • Community Outreach:  OISC provides information and updates to a wide variety of community organizations and groups and meetings and events.
  • Volunteer Trips:  What better way to learn about invasive species than to go into the field and survey OISC style!
  • Print Materials: Downloadable fliers and brochures.

ARE YOU GETTING BITTEN OR STUNG IN YOUR YARD?

SEVERAL LITTLE FIRE ANTS INFESTATIONS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING TREATMENT ON OAHU.

These recent detections of little fire ants on Oahu are the results of residents submitting ants for identification after being repeatedly “bitten” in their yard. There are over 50 species of ants in Hawaii and none are native. However, some are worse than others…and little fire ants are one of the worst in the world. There are several stinging ants widely established on the island that are similar in color and size. To identify ants by their species, they need to be looked at under a microscope. So, the public is asked to collect and send their ants for identification.

If little fire ant infestations are found early….the successful eradication of that colony is greatly increased.

So please…COLLECT & SUBMIT YOUR ANTS FOR IDENTIFICATION: “How to Test for LFA,” which shows the step-by-step procedure for testing for LFA:  https://vimeo.com/97558997

  • It’s easy…you just need to place a very thin smear of peanut butter on the end of a stick, a small piece of paper and leave it in a damp, shady area for 1 hour.
  • Place any sticks that have ants into a ziptop bag and freeze overnight to kill the ants.
  • Mail the ziptop bag of ants to either HDOA: 1428 S. King St., Honolulu 96814 or OISC: 743 Ulukahiki St., Kailua 96734…we’ll identify them and let you know.

For more information on Stop the Ant campaign, go to:  http://stoptheant.org/

LFA was first detected in the state on Hawaii Island in 1999. However, by time it was found, the ants were widely disbursed on the island and no treatment protocol existed for eradication. The HAL was then established to research best method of eradication and control of LFA. The treatment plans developed by HAL and HDOA entomologists have been very successful in eradicating new infestations. The protocol uses several types of pesticides and bait formulas applied on a six-week interval for a total of eight treatments. Originally from South America, LFA is considered among the world’s worst invasive species. LFA are tiny ants, measuring 1/16th inch long, and pale orange in color. LFA move slowly, unlike the tropical fire ant, which is established in Hawaii, can move quickly, and is much larger with a larger head in proportion to its body. LFA can produce painful stings and large red welts and may cause blindness in pets. They can build up very large colonies on the ground, in trees and other vegetation, and inside buildings and homes and completely overrun a property.

Are these little fire ants? Don’t know! There are several ants similar in size and color that are widespread in Hawaii. We can’t ID the ant species unless we look at them under a microscope. Collect and send your ants in for identification and find out what species of ants you have.

 

Current Areas Under Treatment for LFA on Oahu:

Kaneohe, Oahu

  • Reported December 19, 2018 – Samples submitted to HAL
  • Treatment zone 2 acres; 11 properties involved
  • Treatment began January 2019; survey in July 2019 found no LFA
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL

Ahuimanu, Oahu

  • Reported January 25, 2019 – Samples submitted by resident to Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)
  • Treatment zone 2 acres; 12 properties involved
  • Treatment began March 2019
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL, OISC

Lanikai, Oahu

  • Reported June 13, 2019 – Resident submitted ant samples to HAL.
  • Treatment zone < 2 acres; 6 properties involved
  • Treatment began July 17, 2019
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL

Kualoa, Oahu

  • Reported May 8, 2019 – Kualoa staff submitted ant samples to OISC.
  • Treatment zone 20 acres; pastures, natural areas, unpaved roadways
  • Treatment began September 16, 2019
  • Participating Partners: Kualoa Ranch, HAL, HDOA, GCAPS, OISC, Oahu Army National Resource Program
  • (OANRP), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),

Makiki Heights, Oahu

  • Reported July 23, 2019 – Resident submitted ant samples to HAL – Oahu
  • Treatment zone approximately 5 acres; 18 properties involved
  • Treatment began October 9, 2019
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL

Pauoa, Oahu

  • Reported August 30, 2019 – Resident submitted ant samples to HDOA/HAL
  • Delimiting surveys currently being conducted on approximately 2 acres and 8 properties involved
  • Treatment will begin when surveys are complete
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL

Laie, Oahu

  • Reported October 7, 2019
  • Delimiting surveys currently being conducted
  • Participating partners: HDOA, HAL, GCAPS, OISC, OANRP, USFWLS

 

FOURTH DETECTION OF RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH ON O‘AHU

Dead leaves still attached to ʻōhiʻa (as seen here from the air)…this is known as “flagging” and symptomatic of potential presence of ROD inside the tree.

(Honolulu) – An aerial survey of some 20,000 acres of forest on O‘ahu has resulted in the fourth detection of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) in an ʻōhiʻa in the Moanalua Section of the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve above Tripler Army Medical Center.

“Fortunately,” explains State Protection Forester Rob Hauff of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), this tree is infected with Ceratocystis huliohia, the less aggressive species of the fungus associated with ROD.”  The tree was located using a helicopter-mounted camera system developed by the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Lab (SDAV).  The collected images were analyzed in partnership with staff from the O‘ahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) and DOFAW, as part of an on-going effort to improve the ability of field personnel to spot potentially infected trees.

The previous detections of the same species on O‘ahu include single trees on Kamehameha Schools land in Waiawa, and on two private properties in Windward O‘ahu residential areas. Nathan Dube, the manager of the OISC said both of those trees were planted ʻōhiʻa. He said, “Both of these detections were from concerned landowners, who reported their dead or dying ʻōhiʻa to OISC.  An OISC field team cut down the trees, dissected them, and sent samples to a lab in Hilo for positive confirmation and for research purposes.”

The aerial survey that picked up the tree in the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve, focused on the area adjacent to the earlier Waiawa detection. Surveyors identified about 40 additional trees from the images that need to be sampled for the disease, including ground-truthing. That process will take some time, as the area is rugged and difficult to reach.  DOFAW and OISC crews, with the help from experts on Hawai’i Island, decided to remove the infected branch of the tree and monitor it monthly for further signs of disease. Crews used a sealant on the wound to prevent additional disease infection.

*Please report location of dead or dying ʻōhiʻa trees with dead leaves still attached on O‘ahu to OISC at: oisc@hawaii.edu  (Photos are helpful)

Surveying 20,000 acres of forest on Oahu. using helicopter mounted camera system designed by UH-Hilo, Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Lab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residents and visitors can help protect our remaining ʻōhiʻa forests with the following actions:

  • Avoid injuring ʻōhiʻa. Open wounds on ʻōhiʻa are an entry point for disease spores. The disease can also spread from tree to tree on machetes or other tools.
  • Don’t transport ʻōhiʻa inter-island.
  • Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or vegetation, especially from areas known to have ROD.
  • Clean your hiking boots/gear/tools. Scrub off all dirt and spray boot soles and tools with 70% rubbing alcohol, and wash your clothes in hot water and use a dryer to ensure the disease is not spread on boots and clothing.
  • Wash your vehicle if driving near ʻōhiʻa forests. The disease can remain alive and infectious in soil, so wash all dirt off vehicles.

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death has now been detected on Hawai‘ Island, Maui, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu since the fungal disease was first discovered in 2014. To date, the more aggressive form of the disease has not been found on Maui or O‘ahu, and is extremely limited on Kaua‘i.

The New 643-PEST App is Here!!

Submit a report using to alert the 643Pest Network of new pest sightings in Hawaii. The website 643pest.org (and the 643-PEST telephone hotline) are services provided by the State of Hawai‘i to help direct pest reports to the appropriate responding agency, or to community-based partnerships working with the state on invasive species issues.

…and they have just launched a new app for your smart phone! You can download the app using the QR code at the bottom or just search “643Pest” in your app store. Just keep it on your phone and reporting suspect pests is a breeze. It’s free, easy to use, and applicable state-wide. Together, we can stop the spread of invasive species!

Remember to call 911 immediately for all snake sightings.

 

Contact Us

Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)
Office: (808) 266-7994
Fax: (808) 266-7995

OISC Manager: Nate Dube
E-mail: oiscmgr@hawaii.edu
OISC Outreach Coordinator: Erin Bishop
E-mail: oisc@hawaii.edu

Pest Hotline: 808-643-PEST (7378)
Report a Pest Online