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Micronesia Biosecurity Plan Nears Completion

22 January, 2012 - 07:02 — aubreymoore

A January 18, 2012 article in the Palau newspaper, Island Times, is entitled "Micronesia Biosecurity Plan Nears Completion". The article features quotes from Fred Sengebau, Director of the Palau Bureau of Agriculture.  Sengebau said that the plan will contain recommendations for strengthening biosecurity – preventing invasive species – for all of Micronesia, including Palau.

The MBP was initiated by the US Navy to mitigate an expecting increase in arrival and spread of invasive species in Micronesia as a consequence of the Guam military buildup. The Navy referred to the MBP in the environmental impact statement for the buildup, but it was not released for public comment prior to the record of decision (ROD). In the ROD, the Navy made the following commitment.  "MBP development will continue after the ROD with the APHIS, USGS, and SERC Risk Assessment and Biosecurity Plans anticipated in December 2010 for review by DoN and NISC. The Final MBP is anticipated in March 2011 and will be made available for public review."  

The Navy currently anticipates release of the MBP in March 2012.

Metarhizium bioassay 4

18 January, 2012 - 16:05 — Jessica Gross

On 01/09/12 four soil samples from four different GMF sinks (Ada, Oka, Fujita 1&2) were taken and placed into glass jars containing healthy CRB larvae to see if they would get infected by the GMF growing in the soil. In total, six 1sts, 7 2nds and three 3rds were placed into separate jars. Also, all female beetles that are found in the GMF sinks are now being collected and brought in to test in this experiment.

Ada jar numbers:

0026: 1st instar

0036: 2nd instar

0033: 3rd instar

0037: 1st instar

Oka jar numbers: 

0038: 1st

0024: 2nd

0039: 3rd

0678: 2nd

Fujita 1:

0040: 1st

0031: 2nd

0041: 3rd

0682: 1st

Fujita 2:

0025:1st

0032: 2nd

0043: 2nd

0028: 2nd

Adult CRB jars:

1029

0045

One week later, the jars were checked.

Ada

0026: 1st was dead and disintegrated

0026: the 2nd was near death, not moving and turning hard

0033: 3rd still alive and active, but with black fluid coming out of its mouth

0037: 1st dead and green

Oka: 0038 alive 

0024: alive

0678: alive

0039: alive with black fluid coming from mouth

F1

0040: dead with green/white coloring

0031: alive with black fluid coming from mouth

0041: alive

0682: alive

F2

0025: dead and disintegrated

0032: alive

0043: alive

0028: alive

1029: alive

0045: alive

On 01/25/12 all jars were checked again and all the larvae were dead and covered with green hyphae. The adult beetles were still alive.

What is a GMF sink?

18 January, 2012 - 09:26 — Jessica Gross

A GMF (Green Muscardine Fungus / Metharhizium anisopliae) sink is a method of attracting and killing Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles in their various life stages by means of building a ground trap. This ground trap consists of four coconut logs arranged as a squareshaped confinement on the ground, with either chipped wood or decaying coconut debris and soil in the center. The coconut logs and soil attract the beetles to the trap, where they breed and lay their eggs. Additionally, a pheromone lure is added to the trap to ensure that a large amount of beetles is attracted to the sink. The soil/debris in the center has been treated with the Green Muscardine Fungus, usually approximately 350 g, which leads to the death of the CRB within 14 to 21 days. In the time that the larvae and or adult beetles are still alive, they are capable of infecting other healthy beetles with the fungus as well. The sinks are then covered with coconut fronds to prevent UVA/UVB rays from damaging the growth of GMF.  In order for GMF to grow well, it needs warm temperatures and high humidity. If this is provided, the fungus can remain active in the soil for several months up to one year. We are currently inspecting these sinks every two weeks, re-applying GMF to them and recording the number of beetles and larvae (dead and alive) found inside the traps.

Online Resources for Insect Pests of Trees on Guam

11 January, 2012 - 03:03 — aubreymoore

List of Insects and Mites Attacking Crops in Micronesia - contains insects attacking some trees, but currently in need of updating.

List of Insect Pest Fact Sheets - includes the "Tree Pests of the Marianas Series"

The book, Traditional Trees of Pacific Islands: Their Culture, Environment, and Use edited by Craig R. Elevitch is a fantastic reource for info on trees in the Pacific. Tree species profiles can be downloaded and each contains a section on diseases and pests. (Thanks to Phoebe Wall for suggesting this resource.)

The USDA Forest Service publishes an annual Forest Pest Hilights for the US affiliated Pacific Islands, a good resource for evolving pest issues in Pacific Island forestry.

Visualization of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Trap Catch Data

4 January, 2012 - 09:42 — aubreymoore

Updated February 1, 2012. Please download the attached PDF.

trap_catch_thumb

GMF sinks

3 January, 2012 - 09:31 — Jessica Gross

On 12/20/2011 seven GMF filled sinks were made:

1) Oka Point: ca. 220 g GMF. GPS coordinates: 13.50479, 144.78360

2) South of Hyatt Hotel: ca. 220 g GMF. GPS coordinates: 13.51225, 144.80334

3) SPPC: ca. 250 g GMF. GPS coordinates: 13.50384, 144.79033

4) Fujita: ca. 200 g GMF. 13.50908, 144.80225

5) Fujita: ca. 410 g GMF. 13.50894, 144.80080

6) Ada: 220 g GMF. 13.49771, 144.78444

7)Backside of Paseo de Oro: 476.5 g GMF. 13.49943, 144.78513

The sinks should be checked up on 1/4/2012 and 1/11/2012.

On 01/10/12 seven further GMF sinks were made:

8) near the horse ranch at Cross Island Road: 438.3 g GMF. 13.40578, 144.70642

9) Windward Hills: 462.2 g GMF. 13.38315, 144.73996

10) Talafofo Golf Course dump site: 451 g GMF. 13.36103, 144.73584

11) Our Lady of Peace Cemetery: 300 g GMF. 13.37595, 144.73471

12) near Bishop Apuron: 350g GMF. 13.39342, 144.71230

13) Windward Hills: 380 g GMF. 13.37621, 144.73790

14) Wusstig, Dededo: 400 g GMF. 13.53361, 144.87030

15) Jinapsan 1: 250 g GMF. 13.64172, 144.88179

16) Jinapsan 2: 250 g GMF. 13.64082, 144.88176

17) Jinapsan 3: 250 g GMF. 13.63892, 144.88283

18) Jinapsan 4: 250 g GMF. 13.63403, 144.88522

19) Jinapsan 5: 250 g GMF. 13.63020, 144.88858

20): Maina: 250 g GMF. 13.46790, 144. 73862

21) Agana Heights: 250 g GMF. 13.46117, 144.74034

22) Sinajana: 250 g GMF. 13.46317, 144.75638

23)Toto Pipeline 1: 250 g GMF. 13.45880, 144. 77129

24) Toto Pipeline 2: 250 g GMF. 13.46565, 144. 77528

25) Lost Pond 1: 100 g GMF. 13.55217, 144.81186

26) Lost Pond 2: 100g GMF. 13.55243, 144.81232

27) Lost Pond 3: 100 g GMF. 13.55286, 144.81241

Guam has 32 of the "Worlds 100 Worst Invasive Species"

21 December, 2011 - 10:44 — aubreymoore

Updated January 1, 2012.

The Invasive Species Specialist Group maintains a Global Invasive Species Database and they have compiled a list of what they consider to be "100 of the Worlds Worst Invasive Species".  The criteria for inclusion in this list are not clear and selection is quite arbitrary. However, I thought it my be informative to count which of these "100 worst invasive species" have established on Guam.  I highlighted species on Guam on the attached PDF. The count stands at 32 out of 100.

Christmas Trees: A Potential Pathway for Invasive Species Entering Guam

23 November, 2011 - 14:49 — aubreymoore

Each year, shipping containers full of Christmas trees arrive from Oregon and Washington State. And each year, Guam Customs and Quarantine find hitch-hikers in the containers: insects and other alien animals which potentially put Guam's agriculture and ecosystems at risk (Google Search). Of major concern is potential for the accidental introduction of yellow-jackets and other wasps.

The Guam Department of Agriculture requires that trees must be "mechanically shaken for a period of time sufficient to dislodge any hitch-hiking insects and other contaminants" prior to shipment. And all shipments must be a phytosanitary certificate from a state inspector certifying that the shipment is free from pests (See the 2011 Christmas Tree Shaking and Treatment Compliance Agreement from Oregon State.)

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