RES 718 Draft 01 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DESIST IN THE PROPOSED RELEASE OF TECTOCOCCUS OVATUS (SCALE INSECT) ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII TO REDUCE THE VIABILITY AND REPRODUCTION OF PSIDIUM CATTLEIANUM (STRAWBERRY GUAVA). WHEREAS, the strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), or waiawi, was introduced over 180 years ago to the Hawaiian Islands and the common guava (Psidium guajava) was introduced later. Both species are used by residents and wildlife for food. The common guava is now a commercial crop on the Island of Hawaii, and both the common and the strawberry guava are used to produce juice, jams, and jellies; and WHEREAS, the strawberry guava is a widespread tropical weed in forests of Hawaii, common between sea level and approximately 3900 ft (occasionally to 5250 ft). This invasive plant has the potential to invade an estimated 47 percent of the land area of Hawaii Island and already infests thousands of acres of forest on all the major Hawaiian Islands forming dense thickets up to 30 ft. in height and suppressing native species, including many that are rare and endangered. The strawberry guava reproduces sexually and asexually through shoots; and WHEREAS, Tectococcus ovatus Hempel (Homoptera: Eriococcideae) is a small scale insect that creates galls on young leaves of the strawberry guava. The mobile stage of Tectococcus is the newly -hatched nymph or crawler. Crawlers typically move to new leaves at the stem tip where they begin to feed and form galls. Tectococcus can reproduce continuously, with a generation time of 6-10 weeks; and WHEREAS, the Institute of the Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), investigated potential biocontrol agents and selected Tectococcus believing it could reduce the number and vitality of the strawberry guava, and that it could tolerate the full range of strawberry guava habitats in Hawaii because Tectococcus has a native range that includes wide variation in temperature and humidity; and WHEREAS, the IPIF evaluated Tectococcus, both in its native range and under quarantine conditions in Hawaii to reduce the risks to non -target species. IPIF has petitioned the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture for permission to release Tectococcus in Puna's `Ola`a Forest Reserve as a new biological control agent against strawberry guava; and WHEREAS, there is no guarantee that Tectococcus will continue to consume only the strawberry guava and not spread to the ordinary guava or to other related native Hawaiian species once it is released in the environment; and