On guard! So far, Molokaʻi has been able to keep out a number of invasive species whether it be little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles, or coqui frogs.
The Conversation checked in with the Molokaʻi-Maui Invasive Species Committee about the need to stay vigilant. Committee coordinator Lori Buchanan spoke with us about its success in keeping the critters from getting a foothold on the Friendly Isle.
She said Molokaʻi's achievement is tied to heightened community awareness and vigilance of all invasive species, not just of the little fire ant.
"We really, really depend on the relationships we have with our community to be the eyes and ears for us, and then on the ground doing the diligence of actually baiting, trapping, and looking for ants," Buchanan said.
The Molokaʻi group tries to be proactive, rather than reactive when it comes to imported plants and landscaping projects. On such a close-knit island, it's also easier to track the movement of inter-island shipments.
Buchanan said residents will even alert MoMISC if they need to ship crops or goods from somewhere with known little fire ant infestations. She or a staffer will go to the Young Brothers port and try to do an on-site inspection.
Aside from the little fire ant, the group is especially on the lookout for the coconut rhinoceros beetle. It was discovered for the first time on Big Island earlier this month.
"We always assume that it's going to get here. For us, it's catching it as soon as we can," Buchanan told HPR. "We all know that prevention is the most cost-effective way of preventing invasive species because once they become established and start to naturalize, it's nearly impossible to eradicate."
On nearby Lānaʻi, Pūlama Lānaʻi was able to eradicate a case of little fire ants after an infestation was discovered in 2013. There are currently no known infestations.
Suspect little fire ants on your Molokaʻi property? Contact the Molokaʻi-Maui Invasive Species Committee at (808) 336-0625 or molokaiinvasive@gmail.com.
October is also Stop the Ant Month in Hawaiʻi. Click here to learn more or request a collection kit. You can also report pest sightings to state officials at 643pest.org or by calling 643-PEST.
This interview aired on The Conversation on Oct. 26, 2023. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1. Sophia McCullough adapted this story for the web.
