U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has asked for funding to fight an alien insect that is threatening the macadamia nut industry in Hawaii.
Gabbard introduced legislation last week to fight the macadamia felted coccid, an insect similar to the mealybug that distorts and stunts new growth.
Gabbard said the insect costs Hawaii’s macadamia nut industry millions of dollars every year.
She wants Congress to help to support research and development to fight the macadamia felted coccid and also develop a pest management program that includes protection for other crops.
“As I visited multiple farms on Hawaii Island last month, I heard story after story of how this tiny invasive insect is destroying farms and threatening the livelihood of communities like Kona, Kau and Hilo,” she said in a statement. “Federal funding is desperately needed to find a solution.”
Macadamia nut growers say the funding will help to protect farms on about 16,000 acres of land that process 50 million pounds of nuts in Hawaii a year.
The macadamia felted coccid is one of more than 4,300 invasive species threatening Hawaii’s agricultural industry.
Many alien species have also devastated native Hawaiian forests, raising the number requiring protection.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week announced it is adding 39 native Hawaiian plants and 10 animals to the endangered species list.
They include the band-rumped storm-petrel, the orange black Hawaiian damselfly, an anchialine pool shrimp, and seven yellow-faced bees.
“These species are all affected by habitat loss and invasive species,” said Mary Abrams, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s field supervisor for the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.
“Listing these species as endangered will help draw attention to the threats that have brought them so close to extinction, and allow us to begin the process of bringing about recovery.”
For a complete list of the species covered by this action, the public may review a Federal Register Notice, and all other associated documents, by calling 792-9400 or visiting goo.gl/kTPE7H Opens in a new tab.
