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Three meter immature miconia plant found in `Aiea
Big news in ʻAiea! The OISC crew found a three meter immature miconia (Miconia calvescens) in Keaʻiwa Heiau State Park in ʻAiea on October 1 while doing surveys for another of our target species, devil weed (Chromolaena odorata). There is no historical record of miconia being planted or occurring naturally in that area and it will expand our search area by quite a bit. OISC had previously estimated the known seed bank for miconia as an 800 meter buffer around all mature trees. The ʻAiea tree is much farther than that from any known mature tree. We don’t know if there is a mature tree somewhere that we don't know about, or if this is a random long-distance dispersal event. The crew has flown a 500-meter radius of the forested area to the northeast of the plant. The other side is a residential neighborhood so it cannot be surveyed by air. The roads in the area were recently surveyed for devil weed and the crew would have noticed a miconia tree on those surveys, but they will go again just in case. So far, no other trees have been found. 478 acres were surveyed by air, 142 acres were surveyed by ground. This was the first time the OISC crew had visited this spot so this plant being “self-inflicted” through contaminated gear isn’t a possibility. Many thanks to Hawaiʻi State Parks for their cooperation in controlling both devil weed and miconia.
Please report any miconia sightings to OISC at oisc@hawaii.edu or 808-266-7994. Please take a point, but leave the plant in place. The OISC crew will come and dispose of it. We ask people to leave the plant so we can record its height and other data, take a point and make sure that it is disposed of properly. Miconia is one of OISC’s top priorities because of its ability to replace Hawaiʿi’s diverse forests with single species miconia stands that cannot hold the soil; promoting erosion, landslides, and sedimentation of near shore reefs.
In other watersheds, the OISC crew removed miconia from Heeia, Nuʻuanu, Mānoa, Makiki, Kawainui, Kaʻalaea, Wahiawa and Waimanalo watersheds. One mature that slightly expands our designated search area found in Nuʻuanu.
| Watershed |
Mature Miconia |
Immature Miconia |
| ʿAiea |
0 |
1 |
| Kaʿalaea |
0 |
17 |
| Kawainui |
0 |
8 |
| Makiki |
0 |
1 |
| Mānoa |
0 |
253 |
| Nuʿuanu |
1 |
0 |
| Waimānalo |
0 |
16 |
| Total |
1 |
296 |
Work continues on cane ti at Poamoho
OISC, together with the Natural Area Reserves Program and Koʿolau Mountain Watershed Partnership, removed four mature and 1,062 immature cane ti (Tibouchina herbacea) plants from the Poamoho Natural Area Reserve. This plant is a severe problem in Maui and Big Island forests. Unlike most of our target species that are introduced in residential areas, upper Poamoho is the only place on Oʿahu this species is found.
Aerial monitoring finds no pampas grass regrowth
OISC crew flew 624.65 acres along the Heʿeia cliffs to monitor a 2011 treatment for pampas grass (Cortaderia spp.) and check for spread aroung the original infestation of 14 plants. They did not see any regrowth or spread.
Devil weed containment work continues
OISC surveyed 825 acres for devil weed (Chromolaena odorata) and treated and/or removed 598 mature and 3,475 immature plants.
| Watershed |
Mature Devil Weed |
Immature Devil Weed |
| ʿAiea |
28 |
87 |
| Kahana |
23 |
801 |
| Paumalu |
547 |
2587 |
| Total |
825 |
3475 |
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The identifying characteristics of miconia are the striking purple undersides and the three very prominent vertical veins running down the leaf.
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OISC's big little fire ant at Tamarind square in downtown Honolulu during "Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant" month. OISC distributed 1,350 test kits during the month of September.
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Fifteen coqui frogs captured in Waimānalo
OISC conducted surveys for coqui frog in Waimānalo and Kawai Nui watersheds. Fifteen frogs were caught in Waimānalo, none in Kawai Nui.
Early detection for invertebrate pests continues--no detections during September and October.
Surveys for Myoporum thrips (Klambothrips myopori), little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) and coconut rhinoceros beetle (Orystes rhinoceros) did not detect any of these species. Data is below:
- 18 surveys conducted over 8 different watersheds for Myoporum thrips.
- 78 traps checked per month for coconut rhinoceros beetle over 27 different watersheds.
- 15 high-risk sites surveyed for little fire ant. Trail maintenance was done in preparation for six-month post-treatment monitoring survey.
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