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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0691.001 2008-2010t Cas Van ,oude 1K Hawaii Department of Agriculture ti "Plant Pest Control Branch, Hilo' smannla co Comm N 1I` V Ref. Tot P- M C— Ref. Gate 1 7 /8 Biology and ecology • Nests in trees and in the ground • Loves shade and moisture • A "tramp" species, LFA have many queens in each colony, and colonies interconnect to form huge 3- dimensional "supercolonies" Extremely efficient at farming scale insects and mealybugs Impacts • LFA impact life at all levels: — Human health — Plant health — Animal health — Economic losses — Environmental values www wasmanma corn A pest of people • Painful stings • Unable to enjoy outdoor activities — Walking through forest — Letting children play outside • Gardening becomes almost impossible WNW WaSTEMIlla Corti 2 A pest of agriculture and horticulture • LFA "ranch" mealybugs, scales and other insects. — Protect them from natural enemies — Move them from leaf to leaf, plant to plant • This causes stunting of growth, premature fruit excision, fruit spoilage. 3 A pest of animals • Domestic animals frequently stung — LFA hang around the food bowl and forage around where dogs, etc live • The result is frequent stings which leads to hair loss and rashes • Stings on the eyes can cause keratopathy - a clouding of the corneas Economic costs • Crop losses • Scales and mealybugs reduce production • Workers unwJhn china ble to harvest • Rejection of export commodities • Blinded domestic animals • Medical costs • Pest control costs • Impacts on tourism WWW.Wa T a 11 11 la COT 4 Hawaii situation report • East Hawaii Island - First detected 1999 - Now dstnbuted from lower Pune to Laupahoenoe - No prospect of eraieancn • Kauai - First detected in 2000 - covers around 2-3 acres - o r Branly n es m e on one propedy IKiluheal despite extensive surveys across The - Eradication planned this year • Maui - One oddr es wamee C - avers Covers around 1 1 0 to acres - - We October 2009 2009 We plan lan to ct to Se Vest Ne property on a monthly scM1edrle for 12 months, th awricM1 to have wreaoreg - We e n have now reached the point of "virtual eraJKe4on' Kona • Reported by a resident of Kailua -Kona in January 2010 • Appears to have been introduced via infested landscaping plants • Also found at a landscapers yard • 2 -3 additional properties affected and at least some of the landscaper's previous contract sites must a Iso be infested • Numerous unrelated infestations likely What to do now? • HDOA will continue to follow -up on reports • Work with the County, Kona interest groups and BISC to raise awareness • Help with potentially affected industries to develop management plans • Will develop community driven eradication and prevention plans • Develop and implement certification systems with co- operating industry bodies www.wasmannra.com 5 How can the county assist? • Already assisting through $4000 R &D grant for development of new management solutions • Mail out flyers with property tax or other regular mailings • Take a lead by requiring vendors to the county to have certification if or when developed by their industry body • Can the county require LFA inspections after new developments, major landscaping projects or properly transfers • Can the county provide resources to the Kona LFA taskforce' 6