Progress 12/01/14 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences were export plant nursery managers, shippers, and workers, (Big Island Association of Nurserymen, Hawaii Export Nursery Association), landscapers (Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii), Hawaii Department of Agriculture personnel, USDA APHIS personnel, and the general public. Conferences and meetings were organized by Crop Production Services, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hawaii Export Nursery Association, for their respective clientele, and were also open to the public. Approximately 900 Hawaii growers and landscapers, government agency representatives, and research and extension faculty and staff were reach by presentations and site visits each year. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training for professionals included: "Pests of Trees and Palms in Hawai`i", which was presented to the Western Section, International Society of Arboriculture in Waikoloa, HI on March 27, 2015 to landscapers and arborists and contributed to six Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for pesticide applicator licensees. "Challenges in Farming" was a presentation on new alien insects in the state to the Hawai`i to the Association of Conservation Districts in Hilo, HI on June 17, 2015. Educational exhibits were displayed at the MIDPAC Horticultural Conference in Kona on July 24, 2015 sponsored by the Hawai`i Export Nursery Association (HENA), Hawai`i Neotropica, and Orchid Growers of Hawai`i. Information at these exhibits targeted commercial growers and shippers. Approximately 53 professional landscapers and arborists, and personnel from state and federal agencies, 50 representatives of 16 Soil and& Water Conservation Districts throughout the state of Hawai'i, and approximately 250 export growers and shippers, end-users of locally-grown nursery products, and representatives of agricultural support industries and county and state government, increased their ability to identify plant pests and their damage symptoms, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, have been informed of specific best management practices for pests, such as little fire ants, to prevent or slow the spread of these pests. Master Gardeners, who field many homeowner inquiries regarding little fire ant identification, were targeted for "Ant Identification Training", conducted at the Komohana Research and Extension Center in Hilo, HI on March 17-18 and April 28, 2015. Working with East Hawai`i Master Gardener Coordinator Andrew Kawabata and Junior Extension Agent Sharon Motomura, this project's personnel led three 6-hour training sessions, each beginning with a presentation that progressed from general entomology to specific anatomical features on adult ants used in the process of identification using keys and other on-line resources (see presentation at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/index.asp). During the laboratory portion ofthe training session, the Master Gardeners were first instructed on the use of a dissecting stereomicroscope, then the majority of the session was spent examining and distinguishing anatomical features on prepared ant specimens, and advancing onto field-captured ants. Following three separate training sessions, 12 East Hawai`i Master Gardeners in East Hawai`i passed a practical test on their proficiency in using simple ant keys to distinguish the little fire ant from other ant species with the aid of a dissecting stereomicroscope. Their ability to positively identify little fire ants for homeowners in a timely manner expedites the implementation of control and containment measures, possibly preventing or hindering their spread to non-infested areas of the island. The Project Coordinator has been collaborating with Hawai`i Department of Agriculture and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawai`i Environmental Division Pest Management section to identify risks, summarize issues and assumption of responsibilities, elucidate desired outcomes, and provide assessment and recommendations regarding control and eradication of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Hawai`i, particularly Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Pu`uloa Rifle Range Training Facility. Research results on little fire ant mitigation are shared with Hawaii Ant Lab, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and Plant Pono, who conduct public outreach education. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach efforts to the community at-large included presentations and hands-on displays to home gardening groups and at major plant sales. "Garden Pests" was presented to the Senior Ministry group at the Church of the Holy Cross in Hilo, HI on January 22, 2015, and "Be a Pest Detective" was presented to the Senior Gardening class at Kamana Senior Center in Hilo, HI on February 23, 2015 to assist home gardeners in identifying little fire ants and other pests. "Managing Pest Resistance to Pesticides" was presented to the Senior Gardening class on March 2, 2015, along with a presentation by Derek Shigematsu, Hawaii Department of Agriculture on "Pesticide Labels and Safety" to increase awareness of the proper use of garden pesticides by homeowners. Exhibits of inter-island pests, including LFA, coqui frog, and coconut rhinoceros beetle were displayed at several public events as part of this project's outreach: Big Island Association of Nurseries (BIAN) Spring Plant Sale on February 27-28, 2015 and Fall Plant Sale on October 2-3, 2015 in Hilo. These manned exhibits included educational pest posters, and pest identification handouts and preserved specimens of inter-island pests. Visitors to the displays were either experiencing problems with certain pests and needed assistance with detection and control methods, or were concerned about preventing these pests from coming onto their property. Approximately 95 attendees of the community sessions, and more than 3,500 at each Plant Sale increased their ability to identify at least one more garden pest or alien species, steps to take if a pest becomes a problem, including contacts for local and state resource agencies, if necessary, were apprised of their role in preventing or slowing the spread the little fire ant and the coconut rhinoceros beetle, and in the development of pesticide-resistant pest populations that may affect commercial growers. The PIs presented updates on research results to stakeholders by posting video presentations on the PI website (http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/index.asp) and developing a mobile device application (app) for pest identification (Landscape MD). Educational displays, and one-on-one contacts were made regarding the public's role in the state's fight against invasive species at Big Island Association of Nurserymen plant sales (April and September 2016) in Hilo, HI. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A field day/demonstration was held at the Waiakea Research Station near Hilo, HI on July 7, 2015. Nearly 45 attendees indicated on post-training evaluations that the training on use of hot water dips, drenches, and showers "satisfied their reason for attending", "added new knowledge that can be used", and "provided adequate opportunity to ask questions". Several requested follow-up visits by project personnel to assist in adapting pre-market/shipping treatments demonstrated at the session to their plant production schemes, resulting in intra- and inter-state movement of cleaner, pest-free products. Little fire ants (LFA), Wasmannia auropunctata: Nursery personnel at four plant nurseries on Hawai`i Islandwere trained in surveying their sites for LFA and applying insecticidal baits. At each site, the initial entry point was identified and changes to operations protocol were discussed and implemented (e.g., quarantine area set up at each site to monitor incoming plants prior to introduction into nursery-at-large, requiring that their sources provide LFA-free plants, etc.). One fruit shipper with numerous interceptions and rejections by USDA for fruits infested with LFA was visited and trained in using hot water or soapy water dips prior to shipping. Due to site visits and surveying for LFA by project personnel, four plant growers/shippers and a fruit shipper have been able to resume transporting and marketing their products, including hapu`u logs and tropical fruits. LFA workers were subjected to one of five contact insecticide treatments, replicated 4 times (approximately 65 workers per rep): M-Pede at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%, PyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0, or tap water (control). Applications were made using a handheld sprayer, calibrated to deliver 1 ml/spray. Each replicate received two sprays. Results: PyGanic achieved 100% mortality by 10 MAT (table 1). Application of 2% M-Pede killed 98% of worker ants by 10 MAT, with 100% mortality by 60 MAT. Another trial was conducted at the Hawaii Community College's main campus in Hilo, Hawaii, with chronic infestations of LFA, to determine the efficacy of four granular and two liquid insecticides when applied around structures and in lawn areas. Treatments consisted of single applications of six products and an untreated control: Ortho Fire Ant Killer Broadcast Granules (0.20% bifenthrin), Over'N Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer (0.05%zeta-cypermethrin and 0.20% bifenthrin), Talstar Xtra Granular Insecticide featuring Verge Technology (0.05% zeta-cypermethrin and 0.20% bifenthrin), Talstar PL Granular Insecticide (0.20% bifenthrin) at the label rate of 2.3 lb/1,000 ft2, Talstar Professional (7.9% bifenthrin) at 1 fl oz/1,000 ft2, and Amdro Quick Kill Lawn and Landscape Insect Killer Concentrate (0.35% zeta-cypermethrin) at 15 fl oz/1,000 ft2. Worker ant counts were conducted and recorded pre-treatment, then 1, 7, 21 and 28 days after treatment (DAT). Results: Compared to the untreated control, all products reduced the number of foraging LFA by at least 87% up through 28 DAT. There were no differences in effectiveness of the six products evaluated (Table 2) except at 21 DAT when Talstar Xtra dipped to 74.5% reduction; however it resumed its efficacy to be no different than the other products at 28 DAT. Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros: Field trials were installed at USMC Pu`uloa Range Training Facility, Iroquois Point, HI, where CRB were discovered in March 2014. Initial treatments were installed/applied on February 25, 2015, and observations were made every 8 weeks. After three months, Onyx residual activity ceased and the pesticide was not reapplied due to difficulties in scheduling the use of a bucket truck; the trees in the Onyx treatment group were converted to Net treatment (nets installed May 2015). After five additional months, observations indicated that sand was an inadequate barrier against boring beetles and was discontinued. Trees in the sand treatment group were converted to Onyx treatment (pesticide applied October/November 2015, and monthly thereafter). A pesticide delivery system was installed on six trees at the plot site to apply Onyx + Exponent to coconut tree crowns at monthly intervals to reduce the need for a bucket truck, its operator, and personnel trained in Fall Prevention to work in the buckets. The delivery apparatus mounted with cable ties onto each treated tree consisted of PVC pipe (1/2", Schedule 40) starting approximately 4 ft from the ground, along the length of the trunk, and topped with a U-shaped PVC fitting terminating with a Flood Jet nozzle tip (FL-10VS FullJet Wide Angle Full Cone Tip) directed into the crown of the tree. The nozzle produces a large droplet size to reduce spray drift, and delivers 1 gallon per minute (at 40 psi). The spray rig consisted of a mixing/storage tank, pump, and portable generator. An application of 2 quarts of solution required approximately 30 seconds with the pump delivering 40-100 PSI. The nozzle height and orientation were adjusted monthly to accommodate tree growth and emergence of new leaf spears. The spray application was monitored to ensure complete coverage of the tree's crown and the base of emerging leaf spears and inner fronds in order to contact any incoming adult CRB. Observations were taken every 4 weeks to coincide with pesticide applications by project personnel in a bucket truck provided and operated by NAVFAC starting two months after PVC delivery systems were installed onto six trees. Nets were adjusted and added, whenever necessary, to protect the emerging leaf spears and base of leaf petioles nearest to the crown. Damage to the emerging new spear and inner fronds, including bore holes to the tree crown, were noted and photographed. Any adult CRB observed in the crowns were removed, and live beetles were transferred to the laboratory at Gilmore Hall at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, CTAHR, where they were placed in colony boxes, provided food and water, and observed. Results: Monthly damage to untreated coconut trees (control) was consistently between 50 to 66% from January to May 2016 (2 to 6 months after treatment installation (MAT)), with an increase in damage to 70 to 80% at the start of summer (June and July 2016). Damage included bore holes on inner and outer fronds and emerging leaf spears. Fishing nets installed as collars and bow ties appeared to reduce CRB damage to trees from January to March 2016; however, beetle damage steadily increased from April to July 2016. Nine adult CRB were recovered tangled in the netting over the observation period. Between monthly adjustments to the netting, adult CRB were able to locate and bore into vulnerable, unprotected tissue (base of fronds, crown). Coconut trees treated every 4 weeks with Onyx and Exponent incurred less damage from CRB (83.3 to 38.3% after two applications). During the period when CRB damage increased among the untreated and netted trees (5 to 8 MAT), damage to spears, inner fronds, and tree crowns among Onyx-treated trees decreased. Three adult CRB were recovered on or under Onyx-treated trees during the observation period; two of the beetles were found paralyzed in the crown of a tree and died within 48 h in the lab colony without recovery. One dead beetle was found under another tree.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Hara, A. 2016. Pink Hibisucs Mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)(Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) in Hawaii: History and Current Status. 2016 International Congress of Entomology, Septemeber 24-30, 2016, Orlando, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hara, A. and Niino-DuPonte, R. 2015. Hawaii Landscape Plant Pest Guide. Chewing Insects. University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, IP-37. 11 pp.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hara, A. and Niino-DuPonte, R. 2015. Hawaii Landscape Plant Pest Guide. Sucking Insects. University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, IP-36. 16 pp.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hara, A. and Niino-DuPonte, R. 2015. Hawaii Landscape Plant Pest Guide. Mites and Gall-forming Insects. University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, IP-35. 3 pp.
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Progress 12/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Export plant nursery managers and workers, landscapers, Hawaii Department of Agriculture personnel, USDA APHIS personnel, Conferences and meetings were organized by Crop Production Services, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hawaii Export Nursery Association, for their respective clientele and were all also open to the public. Approximately 900 Hawaii growers and landscapers, government agency representatives, and research and extension faculty were reached by presentations and site visits. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training for professionals included: "Pests of Trees and Palms in Hawai`i", which was presented to the Western Section, International Society of Arboriculture in Waikoloa, HI on March 27, 2015 to landscapers and arborists and contributed to six Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for pesticide applicator licensees. "Challenges in Farming" was a presentation on new alien insects in the state to the Hawai`i to the Association of Conservation Districts in Hilo, HI on June 17, 2015. Educational exhibits were displayed at the MIDPAC Horticultural Conference in Kona on July 24, 2015 sponsored by the Hawai`i Export Nursery Association (HENA), Hawai`i Neotropica, and Orchid Growers of Hawai`i. Information at these exhibits targeted commercial growers and shippers. Approximately 53 professional landscapers and arborists, and personnel from state and federal agencies, 50 representatives of 16 Soil and& Water Conservation Districts throughout the state of Hawai'i, and approximately 250 export growers and shippers, end-users of locally-grown nursery products, and representatives of agricultural support industries and county and state government, increased their ability to identify plant pests and their damage symptoms, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, have been informed of specific best management practices for pests, such as little fire ants, to prevent or slow the spread of these pests. Master Gardeners, who field many homeowner inquiries regarding little fire ant identification, were targeted for "Ant Identification Training", conducted at the Komohana Research and Extension Center in Hilo, HI on March 17-18 and April 28, 2015. Working with East Hawai`i Master Gardener Coordinator Andrew Kawabata and Junior Extension Agent Sharon Motomura, this project's personnel led three 6-hour training sessions, each beginning with a presentation that progressed from general entomology to specific anatomical features on adult ants used in the process of identification using keys and other on-line resources (see presentation at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/index.asp). During the laboratory portion of the training session, the Master Gardeners were first instructed on the use of a dissecting stereomicroscope, then the majority of the session was spent examining and distinguishing anatomical features on prepared ant specimens, and advancing onto field-captured ants. Following three separate training sessions, 12 East Hawai`i Master Gardeners in East Hawai`i passed a practical test on their proficiency in using simple ant keys to distinguish the little fire ant from other ant species with the aid of a dissecting stereomicroscope. Their ability to positively identify little fire ants for homeowners in a timely manner expedites the implementation of control and containment measures, possibly preventing or hindering their spread to non-infested areas of the island. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach efforts to the community at-large included presentations and hands-on displays to home gardening groups and at major plant sales. "Garden Pests" was presented to the Senior Ministry group at the Church of the Holy Cross in Hilo, HI on January 22, 2015, and "Be a Pest Detective" was presented to the Senior Gardening class at Kamana Senior Center in Hilo, HI on February 23, 2015 to assist home gardeners in identifying little fire ants and other pests. "Managing Pest Resistance to Pesticides" was presented to the Senior Gardening class on March 2, 2015, along with a presentation by Derek Shigematsu, Hawaii Department of Agriculture on "Pesticide Labels and Safety" to increase awareness of the proper use of garden pesticides by homeowners. Exhibits of inter-island pests, including LFA, coqui frog, and coconut rhinoceros beetle were displayed at several public events as part of this project's outreach: Big Island Association of Nurseries (BIAN) Spring Plant Sale on February 27-28, 2015 and Fall Plant Sale on October 2-3, 2015 in Hilo. These manned exhibits included educational pest posters, and pest identification handouts and preserved specimens of inter-island pests. Visitors to the displays were either experiencing problems with certain pests and needed assistance with detection and control methods, or were concerned about preventing these pests from coming onto their property. Approximately 95 attendees of the community sessions, and more than 3,500 at each Plant Sale increased their ability to identify at least one more garden pest or alien species, steps to take if a pest becomes a problem, including contacts for local and state resource agencies, if necessary, were apprised of their role in preventing or slowing the spread the little fire ant and the coconut rhinoceros beetle, and in the development of pesticide-resistant pest populations that may affect commercial growers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Due to restrictions on the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV, or drones) either currently in place or being considered by the US Federal Aviation Administration, evaluation of aerial bait applications for little fire ants are currently suspended. However, technical development and fabrication of a system capable of aerial dispersal of insecticidal baits for little fire ants are continuing. Possibly, applications of Onyx/Exponent delivered via a spray apparatus piped from the ground to the top of tree crowns at 4- to 5-wk intervals could protect new spear growth from coconut rhinoceros beetle attack. A fulljet or floodjet nozzle allowing large droplet size to prevent spray drift will be evaluated. This project will attempt to design a spray apparatus within the next few months that will minimize the use of a bucket truck and operator and allow delivery of effective insecticides to newly-emerging leaf spears.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A field day/demonstration was held at the Waiakea Research Station near Hilo, HI on July 7, 2015. Nearly 45 attendees indicated on post-training evaluations that the training on use of hot water dips, drenches, and showers "satisfied their reason for attending", "added new knowledge that can be used", and "provided adequate opportunity to ask questions". Several requested follow-up visits by project personnel to assist in adapting pre-market/shipping treatments demonstrated at the session to their plant production schemes, resulting in intra- and inter-state movement of cleaner, pest-free products. In the Philippines, it was observed that as adult coconut rhinoceros beetles attempt to bore into the leaf petioles and unopened fronds, sand enters the articulation between the beetle's head/first thoracic segment and the second thoracic segment and prevents head movement necessary for mandibular chiseling that results in feeding damage. In Guam, fish netting was successfully used to entangle adult CRB upon entrance to or exit from palm crowns and mulch piles. Two field sites, one at Mamala Bay Golf Course on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, HI, where CRB were initially discovered in December 2013, and one at USMC Pu`uloa Range Training Facility, `Ewa Beach, HI, where CRB were discovered in March 2014, were selected to evaluate the efficacy of two physical deterrents, sand and fish netting, as compared with an application of pyrethroids against adult CRB. Nursery personnel at four plant nurseries on the island of Hawai`i were trained in surveying their sites for little fire ants and applying insecticidal baits. At each site, the initial entry point was identified and changes to operations protocol were discussed and implemented (e.g., quarantine area set up at each site to monitor incoming plants before introducing them into the nursery-at-large, requiring that their sources are providing LFA-free plants, etc.). Monitoring and bait applications continue. One fruit shipper with numerous interceptions and rejections by USDA for fruits infested with little fire ants was visited and trained in using hot water or soapy water dips prior to shipping. Due to site visits and surveying for LFA by project personnel, four plant growers/shippers and a fruit shipper have been able to resume transporting and marketing their products, including hapu`u logs and tropical fruits.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hara, A.H., Niino-DuPonte, R.Y., and Cabral, S.K. 2014. Best Management Practices to Prevent and Control the Little Fire Ant. Landscape Hawaii. Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, pp. 20-22.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hara, A.H., Cabral, S.K., Niino-DuPonte, R.Y., and Miyashiro, J.M. 2014. Little Fire Ant Products Available for Landscape, Golf Course and Nursery Use. University of Hawaii at Manoa, CTAHR, Honolulu, HI. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/Nursery_Landscape_LFA_Pesticides_5__2014CES.pdf
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hara, A.H., Cabral, S.K., Niino-DuPonte, R.Y., and Miyashiro, J.M. 2014 (rev Mar 2014). Little Fire Ant Products Available for Homeowner Use. University of Hawaii at Manoa, CTAHR, Honolulu, HI. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/HomeownerLFAAttractancyrev030314CES.pdf
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hara, A.H., Niino-DuPonte, R.Y., and Cabral, S.K. 2014. Sending Flowers to the Mainland? University of Hawaii at Manoa, CTAHR, Honolulu, HI.
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/sending%20pest%20free%20products%20_posting.pdf
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