HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0220.027 2008-2010
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Yoshitnoto, J
From: Cory (Martha) Harden [mh@interpac.net]
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 4:23 PM 2Gi79 AIL 8 ~I
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: oppose reso 80-09/ strawberry guava/ PWIRC 7-7-09
~rtij
Hawai'i County Public Works & Intergovernmental Relations Committee
10 AM Tuesday, July 7, 2009
OPPPOSE Resolution 80-09 re ban on biological controls for strawberry guava
Ms. Cory (Martha) Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawaii 96721
808-968-8965 mh@interpac.net
I support release of the scale insect to control strawberry guava.
The chances that the scale insect will attack non-target species are very small. The chances that uncontrolled
strawberry guava will harm native forests and native wildlife are very large.
In Hawai'i, over 50 biocontrol agents have been released since strict regulation began the 1970s. None has
switched to a non-target host. Worldwide, "in over 1,000 cases of invasive plant biocontrol... over the past 100
years" "newly evolved host-switching has never been observed". Guava, strawberry guava's closest relative in
Hawai'i, is never infested by scale in Brazil, even when growing next to strawberry guava.
"In Hawaii, over 50 biocontrol agents have been released against insect and weed targets since
strict regulatory processes were established in the 1970s. None has switched hosts to nontarget
species or become invasive themselves... newly evolved host-switching has never been observed in
over 1,000 cases of invasive plant biocontrol worldwide over the past 100 years."
Biocontrol: Protection on a Large Scale, for the Long Run, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, last
modified March 10, 2009, http://www.Is.fed.us/psw/programs4pif/strawberryguava/biocontrol.shtml
"Strawberry guava's nearest relative in Hawai'i, the agriculturally gown common guava... is also
native to Brazil and is never infested with the scale there, even though the two guava species can
be found growing side by side."
Biological control of strawberry guava, Frequently Asked Questions, U. S. Forest Service, Pacific
Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, November 2008.
Strawberry guava could potentially invade almost half of our island. It has already crowded out native plant
species in many low and middle elevation forests. This also crowds out native birds and insects that cannot live
without the native plants. But invasive animals can eat strawberry guava fruit, and survive to harm the entire
ecosystem. Strawberry guava also loses far more water to the atmosphere than native forests, meaning less
water for streams and groundwater.
"...strawberry guava has the potential to invade and degrade an estimated 47% of the land area of
Hawai'i island..." Field release of Tectococcus ovatus (Homoptera: Eriococcidae) for biological
control of strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae), in Hawaii, Draft
Environmental Assessment, March 2008, p. 8
"...strawberry guava can quickly crowd out native vegetation (Huenneke and Vitousek 1990). Many
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low.and middle elevation forest areas are now devoid of native species displaced by strawberry
guava..." Field release of Tectococcus ovatus (Homoptera: Eriococcidae) forbiological control of
strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae), in Hawaii, Draft Environmental
Assessment, March 2008, p. 9
"...strawberry guava is considered one of the greatest threats to endangered forest birds on all the
major Hawaiian Islands (USFWS 2003e). Native birds and insects are closely adapted to using
native tree species, and most cannot utilize stands of strawberry guava. Use of fruits by invasive
animals, particularly pigs, facilitates spread of seeds and helps sustain non-native animal
populations that damage native ecosystems extensively in a variety of ways..." Field release of
Tectococcus ovatus (Homoptera: Eriococcidae) for biological control of strawberry guava, Psidium
cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae), in Hawaii, Draft Environmental Assessment, March 2008, p. 10
"Compared to healthy native forests, forests invaded by strawberry guava lose over one quarter
more water to the atmosphere, robbing our streams and groundwater systems of this precious
resource." Biological control of strawberry guava, Frequently Asked Questions, U. S. Forest Service,
Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, November 2008.
There's lots of misinformation about strawberry guava, including a flyer by Sydney Ross Singer of the Good
Shepherd Foundation that repeatedly misquotes Tracy Johnson of the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.
Singer quoting Johnson on hand clearing: "Dramatic reductions in density of strawberry guava and other weeds
have been achieved within Hawaii Volcano National Park..."
Johnson's original statement does not say "Hawaii Volcano National Park" but says "limited areas" selected for
factors like "intactness of native vegetation... and manageability".
Singer quoting Johnson: "High levels of infestation [by the scale insect] cause leaf drop to the point of complete
defoliation."
Johnson's original statement adds: "This level of damage is relatively rare however, and may require combined
stress from other factors such as drought."
Singer quoting Johnson: "Humans near infested strawberry guava may experience chance contact with the eggs,
crawlers and waxy filaments which emerge from female galls. Allergy risk."
Johnson's original statement does not say "Allergy risk" and adds: "[humans] are unlikely to be aware of them
because of their small size. T. ovatus cannot bite or sting and are not poisonous. Allergenicity of substances
generated by homopterous insects is rare..."
Please support release of the scale insect, and save the forests and wildlife native to Hawai'i.
7/8/2009