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Article
Management of Invasive Coqui Frog Populations in Hawaii
Outlooks on Pest Management (2012)
  • Karen H. Beard, Utah State University
Abstract
Currently, coqui frogs are widespread on the Island of Hawaii with over 50,000 ha infested and few large scale efforts have been taken to manage frogs in the past few years. However, eradication efforts have been successful on the other islands and current quarantine measures have reduced the number of new populations arising. On Oahu, a large naturalised population has been eradicated using citric acid spraying and other small or incipient populations have also been removed, therefore Oahu has no frog populations. On Kauai, most populations have been removed with citric acid spraying and a larger population (6 ha) has been greatly reduced using a combination of citric acid spraying and vegetation removal. On Maui, seven populations have been removed and six others have been greatly reduced with citric acid spraying. One large population remains on Maui in Maliko Gulch, because steep terrain has restricted ground based citric acid spraying. However, a new effort has commenced that includes a several other methods to dispense citric acid including high volume sprayer, helicopter with fire fighting buckets, and trailer mounted spray systems.
Keywords
  • frog population,
  • coqui,
  • hawaii,
  • pest management
Disciplines
Publication Date
2012
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1564/23aug05
Citation Information
Pitt, W.C., K.H. Beard, and R.E. Doratt. 2012. Management of invasive coqui frog populations in Hawaii. Outlooks on Pest Management. August. DOI: 10.1564/23jun00.