Mahalo to our funders, partners, and 187 landowners who allowed us to access and survey their property. Thanks to you all, OISC was able to survey 116,000 acres and remove 13,496 invasive species this year. We look forward to 2019 and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season! 

Do you manage or work for a company that leads visitors on land-based tours in Hawaiʻi? Do you want to stand out as an active protector of Hawaiʻi’s natural resources? If so, then you won’t want to miss out on a FREE TRAINING for terrestrial tour operators being offered this fall! This team-taught training brings expertise together from your local Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Committees and the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Team. The course covers best sanitation practices for your tour operation so that your guides and guests can feel confident about minimizing impact to our unique native landscapes. Each participating business will receive a FREE LARGE SANITATION KIT to kick-start or complement your tour operations. Choose from five training dates offered on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. Register today at rapidohiadeath.org! Questions may be directed to ohialove@hawaii.edu.

Little fire ants (LFA) may be tiny, but they pack a powerful sting. Native to South America, these speck-sized invaders have hitchhiked across the Pacific, hidden in imported goods, establishing new populations in islands like Hawaiʻi. Much smaller than the average ant, LFA are about as long as a penny is thick.

LFA are considered one of the World’s 100 Worst Invasive Species (IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group), because of their ability to reach very high numbers, to the point where people and animals can’t avoid stings. Without the competition and predators that could keep their numbers in check, they are invading houses, yards, agricultural fields, and forests.  They’re also terrible at hanging on, so they easily fall off plants and trees when bumped by people or animals. Unsuspecting victims of the “ant rain” are left with painful stings. Pets living in areas with dense populations of these ants develop clouded eye corneas from repeated stings to their eyes. This is painful for pets and the blindness is permanent.

Little fire ants may have reached our shores, but we can’t treat it like “just another ant.”  It’s up to each of us to Spot The Ant and Stop the Ant.

On Oahu, LFA have been detected in two locations in 2014…Mililani and Waimanalo. Both sites have been successfully treated and will continue to be monitored for at least three years after the last LFA detection to ensure eradication.

That said…we don’t know where else they could be. They continue to be intercepted at port inspections, but not every shipment can be looked at and ants are pretty small! Residents and businesses can help us look for these ants. If we can find them, we can get rid of them and stop the spread!

Simply collect your ants, freeze them, then mail them to us for identification. There are 57 species of ants in Hawaii. We need your ants in hand to identify the species under a microscope. Collecting your ants is easy to do with things you have in your home.

What you’ll need:

• disposable chopsticks, stirrers, or popsicle sticks (about 10 sticks)
• cheap peanut butter (if allergic to pb, use mayonnaise)
• zip top bag
• envelope and one stamp

Collecting & Submitting Ants

• 1. Smear a thin coat of peanut butter or mayo on one end of a disposable chopstick or popsicle stick.
  2. Place sticks in shady areas in, around, and on plants, including potted plants, around pet feeding areas, and trash cans. 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 to attract ants.
  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.
  4. Mail the zip top bag of dead ants to the OISC.
     • 743 Ulukahiki St., Kailua, HI 96734

For more information about LFA and their distribution throughout the islands, visit: www.stoptheant.org

The State of Hawaii is hosting the 1st annual Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM) for the month of February 2018. HISAM is an expansion on the past 5 years of hosting the Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week and is organized in coordination with the U.S. National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) and regional Pacific Invasive Species Awareness efforts. HISAM seeks to promote information sharing and public engagement in what the Hawaii State Legislature has declared “the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii’s people.”

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF HISAM EVENTS

6th Annual HISC Awards: Recognizing individuals and groups for their outstanding service to Hawaii in the fight against invasive species.

Award Categories : 

• Business Leader: Recognizes an individual in the private sector or a business that has demonstrated leadership in their role of protecting Hawaii from invasive species.
• Community Hero: Recognizes a community member or community-based group that has been a shining example of dedication to prevent and/or manage invasive species.
• Greatest Hit: Recognizes an individual, organization, or agency responsible for one of the major invasive species highlights in the areas of research, prevention, control, and/or public outreach.
• Island MVPs: Four awards will be given in this category and are selected by the various Island Invasive Species Committee to recognize an individual or group that has made substantial contributions towards advancing invasive species management in Hawaii.
• Hottest Pest Report: Recognizes an individual who reported a high-profile invasive species to the 643pest invasive species reporting system.