Little Fire Ants (LFA) on Oahu Biweekly Update July 29 - August 10, 2014 In this operational period, the LFA ICS team conducted surveys at six priority sites on Oahu. HDOA and the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) worked with the property owners within the Mililani-Mauka LFA treatment area to get consent to treat for LFA on their properties. Treatment began on August 7. The Mililani Town Association cut access trails for treatment prior to this date. The ICS Outreach team was invited by Representative Marcus Oshiro to provide information at the Wahiawa Community Forum on July 30. 65 stakeholders were reached through this outreach opportunity. The Outreach team also provided an LFA curriculum and grounds survey activity for a Biology Class at Leeward Community College on August 8. Little fact about Little Fire Ants: LFA encourage debilitating plant pests such as scales and aphids because they protect them predators and in return receive honeydew for a quick and easy energy source. August 11 - 24, 2014 During this period, the LFA ICS team conducted six surveys at priority sites on Oahu. The LFA ICS team continues implementing control in the Waimanalo and Mililani-Mauka treatment areas led by the Hawaii Ant Lab and with primary support from HDOA and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee On August 14, the ICS Outreach team provided an LFA & Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Presentation to the Windward Soil & Water Conservation District board at the Kahaluu – Heeia Ecumenical Youth (KEY) Project facility. The LFA Outreach team has partnered with Honolulu Botanical Gardens to provide presentations to the community about LFA. During this period they presented and showed the LFA documentary by the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) at Foster Botanical Garden on August 19 and at Wahiawa Botanical Garden on August 20. On August 22, Al Jazeera America published an article about LFA in Hawaii: Paradise lost: The alien invasion of Hawaii Little fact about Little Fire Ants: LFA stings can permanently cloud the cornea of both domestic pets and wild animals; causing partial or full-blindness. LFA are not restricted to nesting outdoors and can invade both domestic residences and commercial buildings. This report uses the best information available at the time of writing and is not an official record of the project. Its purpose is to update partner agencies and concerned individuals about project progress. Questions regarding information in the report can be addressed by calling the incident command post at 973-9528. Mahalo. https://youtube/watch?v=eIUre6lz2GI
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:16:21 +0000