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PW(aL
Murashige, Laura
From: soma grismaijer [somagrismaijer@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:22 AM 2009 JUL Z i
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us; genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us; `
kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us, t?1711i..
jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us; 0001vi
bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; sydsinger@gmail.com; savetheguava@gmail.com
Cc: dbock@hawaiitribuneherald.com; David Corrigan; news@hawaii247.org
Subject: Testimony on Resolution 80-09, Banning Biocontrol against relatives of the o'hia
Please SUPPORT the BAN ON BIOCONTROL against relatives of the o'hia.
The use of biocontrol against myrtle trees is unnecessary. The Big Island honeybee population is now
under attack by the varroa mite. Loss of bees means less fruit. The reason given for releasing the scale
insect, Tectococcus ovatus, against the strawberry guava was to reduce the fruit production, slowing its
spread. With the expected decimation of feral honeybees because of the varroa mite, this fruit reduction
will happen for many more species than just the strawberry guava.
Interestingly, the varroa mite has been considered a potential biocontrol against feral honeybees.
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danOff-burg/invasion_ bio/inv spp_summ/varroa_destructor.html
The point is that trees in our forests that are reliant on honeybees to pollinate their flowers will produce
less, spread slower, and accomplish the goal of forest managers, without needing to risk our forests with
the introduction on alien insects, fungi, and more.
Thank you for your attention.
Soma Grismaijer
President, Good Shepherd Foundation
P.O. Box 1880, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
Comm. No. 2-X0. ~S
Ref. Toy W It
Ref. Date JUL 0 7-2009
7/2/2009