invasive species

Hawaiʻi Island was ground zero for invasive species like the little fire ant and coquí frog. Now, officials and community members are trying to make sure another pest doesn't gain a permanent foothold on the island. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote has more.

The sounds of invasive coquí frogs have been heard in Waimānalo since at least 2021. On a recent Thursday night, HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote went out with a state-led team of volunteers trying to restore the soundscape of the Windward Oʻahu forest.

HISC, one of the state’s leading agencies in pest management, uses a portion of the money it receives to fund pest-related government projects.

A new one-year rule went into effect Wednesday to help protect Molokaʻi from the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle by restricting the import of soil and landscaping materials known to harbor the insect. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.

The state Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals, under the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, agreed Wednesday that the rules protecting the island from CRB are insufficient, and that the need to do so constitutes an emergency.

Earlier this week, HPR reported on a petition aimed at stopping the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle from reaching Molokaʻi. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol shares the next steps of that effort.

The invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle is so widespread on Oʻahu that efforts are focused on containment and management rather than eradication, but the neighbor islands are still fighting to prevent or limit its damage to their communities. HPR’s Mark Ladao has an update on the efforts to contain it.

The two-lined spittlebug has been a growing problem for ranchers on Hawaiʻi Island over the last couple years — and experts warn it’s also a threat for the whole community. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

Eva Fischer, an assistant professor at the University of California, Davis, spoke with HPR’s Maddie Bender about a new paper on what makes coqui frogs tick — and why they’re so invasive on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Hawaiʻi Ant Lab is hosting a free workshop this Thursday to help residents manage little fire ants on their properties. The invasive ant is widespread on Hawaiʻi Island and can also be found on Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.