Mahalo Cindy for sharing this article.
Council looks at coqui killers
by Peter Sur
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer
'Agent Green' touted as among the most effective
Councilwoman Brenda Ford wants to get the ball rolling on approving baking soda as a pesticide for use against coqui frogs.
Meeting as the Environmental Management Committee, County Council members listened to a presentation from various scientists on the different methods and chemicals that people are using across the Big Island.
The frogs, native to Puerto Rico, have become widely established throughout the island's lower elevations, even in areas experiencing a severe drought. High concentrations of the chirping males disrupt the sleep of countless residents and visitors. The frogs' incessant appetite poses a threat to native insects and the birds that depend on them. If overseas markets decide to restrict imports from Hawaii based on the threat of a coqui infestation, that would harm the economy. Mark Munekata, a volunteer with the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board and former research technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, passed to the council two large jars containing three live frogs each.
"The main thing is the public needs to be trained in using any of these methods, and all," Munekata said. "Because one thing that the coqui frog has shown is that it is adaptable. Once you think you have got it under control and you understand it, it does something else and throws you totally for a loop."
Residents have been experimenting for years ways to capture or kill the frogs, attacking them with chemicals, powders, sprays and traps of all kinds. Members of the public testified that chickens, baking soda, and neighborhood cooperation were all effective.
Several of the speakers praised the "Agent Green" developed by orchardist David Davis. This solution of acidic calcium sulfate, he said, is nontoxic, half the cost of citric acid and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
"I'm asking for the council's support in further development of this," Davis said.
Citric acid is the only chemical approved for use against the frogs. Calcium carbonate -- baking soda -- is not, but the FDA classifies both substances as "generally recognized as safe."
"Baking soda will control the frog. It'll also kill your grass," Munekata said. "It's not the silver bullet, but it's something that the public understands."
Munekata said the major manufacturers of baking soda, including the company that makes Arm & Hammer, do not want the state to use their product as a pesticide, "which is unfortunate."
The frogs will eat honey bees, fruit flies, small lizards, other coquis and "anything that fits into the mouth," he said.
Munekata urged that the public get some kind of educational program to raise awareness about the frog.
Ford, who requested the presentation, then asked other specialists present to comment on what they heard.
Lionel Wong is the head of the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Industry Division.
He said that the state was asking the Environmental Protection Agency to grant plant nurseries permission to use hydrated lime.
Baking soda could be procured from sources in China, for example, if U.S. manufacturers don't allow it to be used for frog control, Wong said.
Agent Green, if it's effective against the coquis, should be considered for registration as a pesticide, Wong said. And it cannot be described as nontoxic.
Bill Mautz, a biology professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, said that all acids or bases will kill the frogs if in high enough concentrations.
"The question before us is what ones work that are inexpensive and relatively not hazardous," he said. "I find ... that sodium bicarbonate isn't nearly as effective as citric acid, but in high enough concentrations it does work to kill coqui frogs."
He called Davis' Agent Green "very effective" by causing death within a matter of minutes. Mautz also endorsed chickens and the clearing of vegetation to deprive the frogs of habitat.
Ford pledged to meet the scientists at a later time, and asked about the process of getting baking soda approved for use on the frogs.
"Which of you gentlemen is going to be working on getting baking soda potentially approved as a pesticide?" she asked, inviting Wong to step forward.
Wong said the state could submit a request for an exemption to the EPA.
"How do we inspire you to fill out an application for an exemption?" Ford asked. Wong said he would work with Munekata to determine the best way to do so.
Meeting as the Environmental Management Committee, County Council members listened to a presentation from various scientists on the different methods and chemicals that people are using across the Big Island.
The frogs, native to Puerto Rico, have become widely established throughout the island's lower elevations, even in areas experiencing a severe drought. High concentrations of the chirping males disrupt the sleep of countless residents and visitors. The frogs' incessant appetite poses a threat to native insects and the birds that depend on them. If overseas markets decide to restrict imports from Hawaii based on the threat of a coqui infestation, that would harm the economy. Mark Munekata, a volunteer with the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board and former research technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, passed to the council two large jars containing three live frogs each.
"The main thing is the public needs to be trained in using any of these methods, and all," Munekata said. "Because one thing that the coqui frog has shown is that it is adaptable. Once you think you have got it under control and you understand it, it does something else and throws you totally for a loop."
Residents have been experimenting for years ways to capture or kill the frogs, attacking them with chemicals, powders, sprays and traps of all kinds. Members of the public testified that chickens, baking soda, and neighborhood cooperation were all effective.
Several of the speakers praised the "Agent Green" developed by orchardist David Davis. This solution of acidic calcium sulfate, he said, is nontoxic, half the cost of citric acid and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
"I'm asking for the council's support in further development of this," Davis said.
Citric acid is the only chemical approved for use against the frogs. Calcium carbonate -- baking soda -- is not, but the FDA classifies both substances as "generally recognized as safe."
"Baking soda will control the frog. It'll also kill your grass," Munekata said. "It's not the silver bullet, but it's something that the public understands."
Munekata said the major manufacturers of baking soda, including the company that makes Arm & Hammer, do not want the state to use their product as a pesticide, "which is unfortunate."
The frogs will eat honey bees, fruit flies, small lizards, other coquis and "anything that fits into the mouth," he said.
Munekata urged that the public get some kind of educational program to raise awareness about the frog.
Ford, who requested the presentation, then asked other specialists present to comment on what they heard.
Lionel Wong is the head of the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Industry Division.
He said that the state was asking the Environmental Protection Agency to grant plant nurseries permission to use hydrated lime.
Baking soda could be procured from sources in China, for example, if U.S. manufacturers don't allow it to be used for frog control, Wong said.
Agent Green, if it's effective against the coquis, should be considered for registration as a pesticide, Wong said. And it cannot be described as nontoxic.
Bill Mautz, a biology professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, said that all acids or bases will kill the frogs if in high enough concentrations.
"The question before us is what ones work that are inexpensive and relatively not hazardous," he said. "I find ... that sodium bicarbonate isn't nearly as effective as citric acid, but in high enough concentrations it does work to kill coqui frogs."
He called Davis' Agent Green "very effective" by causing death within a matter of minutes. Mautz also endorsed chickens and the clearing of vegetation to deprive the frogs of habitat.
Ford pledged to meet the scientists at a later time, and asked about the process of getting baking soda approved for use on the frogs.
"Which of you gentlemen is going to be working on getting baking soda potentially approved as a pesticide?" she asked, inviting Wong to step forward.
Wong said the state could submit a request for an exemption to the EPA.
"How do we inspire you to fill out an application for an exemption?" Ford asked. Wong said he would work with Munekata to determine the best way to do so.
0 comments:
Post a Comment