University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers identified 10 new species and seven new groups (genera) of Hawaiian leaf-roller moths. While new species are frequently discovered, the description of a new genus of insects is a much rarer event; seven groups at once is almost unheard of. Discovered by (CTAHR) graduate student Kyhl Austin and Professor Daniel Rubinoff, this research highlights how much Native Hawaiian biodiversity remains a mystery.

Some species are brilliantly colored—almost iridescent—while another species from Hawaiʻi Island is potentially the largest member of its family in the world.

“Hawaiʻi is a world-renowned laboratory for evolution, but these moths have been hiding their true history in plain sight,” said lead author Austin. “By identifying these seven new genera, we are showing that these insects crossed thousands of miles of open ocean to reach Hawaiʻi far more frequently than we ever imagined.”

Despite their small size, leaf-roller moths have proven to be one of the most effective long-distance travelers among any native Hawaiian animals. Evidence suggests they arrived in the islands through as many as 20 independent natural colonization events over several million years, an unprecedented number for any animal group in Hawaiʻi.

Honoring Hawaiian ecology, culture

This work also reorganizes species that had been incorrectly grouped together, creating a roadmap for future conservation and research.

The researchers have proposed several new names that honor Hawaiian ecology and culture:

• Genus Iliahia: Named for its host plant, the endangered ʻiliahi (sandalwood). One new species, Iliahia pahulu, is considered critically endangered and is known only from a small grove of approximately 30 sandalwood trees on Lānaʻi.
• The discovery includes Paalua leleole, which exhibits a rare “flightless” form in females, and Iliahia lilinoe, named after the goddess of the mists on Haleakalā.

Many of the newly described species are already on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the decline of their specific host plants. Some species described in the paper are noted as “presumed extinct,” as they have not been seen in the wild for more than 100 years. Protecting these uniquely Hawaiian animals requires a wide effort to restore native habitats and eliminate invasive species.

The discovery is a “testament to what was here and what we’ve lost,” said Rubinoff. “We are naming species just as they are disappearing.”

The research was conducted through the Entomology Section in CTAHR. The team used advanced “automontage” photography to create highly detailed, 3D-like images of the specimens, which will be used to help conservationists identify these rare insects in the field.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is celebrating a record milestone with 43 active recipients of the —the most in the institution鈥檚 history. Since 1996, 东精影业 Mānoa has produced 135 fellows, with this year鈥檚 record group representing nearly one-third of all recipients over the past 29 years.

NSF GRFP is one of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most competitive graduate fellowships, supporting outstanding students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics who are pursuing research-based master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees. Recipients receive a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance that covers tuition and fees, giving students the flexibility to focus on innovative research that advances science and benefits society.

for the next cycle of NSF GRFP, with deadlines in November for the 2026–27 academic year. Students interested in applying are encouraged to start early and take advantage of resources available through .

From exploding stars to native bees

Among the current fellows is Willem Hoogendam, a PhD candidate in who studies how stars end their lives in explosive supernovae. His research helps explain how essential elements such as iron and calcium are formed and dispersed across the universe, while also exploring rare interstellar comets discovered by Hawaiʻi-led sky surveys. Through the fellowship, Hoogendam also spent time at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and collaborated with leading astronomers in Australia and Hawaiʻi, experiences that broadened his research and professional network.

“It鈥檚 given me academic freedom at an early career stage,” Hoogendam said. “I鈥檝e been able to work with whom I want on what I want to explore. Without this fellowship, I would not have had the freedom to learn about and write papers on interstellar objects.”

The program鈥檚 flexibility has also benefited students such as Sami Akiba, a master鈥檚 student in who studies Hawaiian yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.), the only bees that are native to the state. Her work focuses on understanding the habitat factors that support healthy native bee populations and the threats they face from invasive species. Akiba conducts her fieldwork in Haleakalā National Park on Maui, and has used the fellowship鈥檚 resources to expand her research and training opportunities across the country.

“I am grateful for the flexibility of the NSF GRFP,” Akiba said. “I get to design my own project, make shifts as needed and put effort into aspects of my research I think are particularly important or exciting, even if the ideas are a little unconventional.”

Since its creation in 1952, NSF GRFP has recognized more than 60,000 fellows, including Nobel Prize winners and members of the National Academy of Sciences. At 东精影业 Mānoa, the growing number of fellows highlights the university鈥檚 strong research culture and commitment to developing talent across scientific disciplines.

Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 have found a new caterpillar species with unique and bizarre behaviors鈥攊t lives in spider webs and decorates its portable home with the body parts of the spider鈥檚 prey. This remarkable discovery, reported in , also reveals the species to be endangered.

The caterpillar, a member of the Hawaiian Fancy Case Caterpillar group also known as the genus Hyposmocoma, has been named the “bone collector” caterpillar due to its macabre habit of adding insect body parts into its silken, portable case. Researchers have observed these caterpillars measuring and attaching body parts such as fly wings, weevil heads and earwig abdomens to their cases.

“The bone collector caterpillar is another example of how incredible and unpredictable evolution in Hawaiʻi can be,” said Dan Rubinoff, a professor at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 . “Not only are they the only caterpillars in the world to decorate their homes with body parts but maybe more shocking, they make their living hanging around spider webs. This is something we never even imagined was possible. But in Hawaiʻi, here it is.”

Rubinoff co-authored the new study with 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 scientists Michael San Jose and Camiel Doorenweerd.

Carnivorous caterpillar

The caterpillars are carnivorous and live with spiders in webs located in tree hollows, logs, or rock cavities. The predator opportunistically feeds on weakened or recently deceased insects within the web, even chewing through silken webbing to reach their meals.

However, the study also reveals a troubling reality: the newly discovered species is already endangered. After decades of searching, the caterpillar has only been found in a small 15-square-kilometer area of forest in the Waiʻanae mountain range on Oʻahu.

Ancient roots

The researcher team estimates that the evolutionary origin of the bone collector caterpillar lineage dates back at least six million years, significantly older than the current islands of Hawaiʻi. This suggests that the species may have once been more widespread across the ancient and now sunken islands to the northwest of the main Hawaiian archipelago.

Scientists at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 are calling for immediate conservation efforts to preserve the habitat of the bone collector caterpillar and prevent the loss of this remarkable species.

The at Gilmore Hall came alive with curiosity and exploration in celebration of Darwin Day 2025, a global celebration of science, discovery and evolutionary biology. Held every year on February 12, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 event featured interactive exhibits and an adventurous insect-tasting session.

Nomi Ruiz, a team member of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR), examined an assortment of insect snacks at the museum before cautiously biting into a dark chocolate-coated cricket. She eyed a tray of chocolate chip cookies made with cricket flour, but decided she had enough six-legged treats for the day. Her food adventure set the tone for the event, which honored Charles Darwin and his groundbreaking contributions to the study of life sciences and natural selection.

“Darwin fundamentally reshaped how we view the natural world,” said Dan Rubinoff, director of the 东精影业 Insect Museum and professor at the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. “This international event gives us a chance to celebrate those ideas and their relevance today.”

Rubinoff explained how the museum, which is part of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, highlights Darwin鈥檚 legacy of evolution and understanding how life on Earth is shaped by our environment.

“That鈥檚 important not just for itself, but also for agriculture and conservation, because we have invasive species that come in and replace the native species,” Rubinoff said.

Darwin Day in Hawaiʻi

Spencer Pote, a PhD student at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, emphasized the importance of celebrating Darwin Day in the islands.

“The islands act almost like a conveyor belt of evolution, with species diversifying in ways we don鈥檛 see anywhere else,” Pote said. ”Darwin Day lets us share these incredible stories of natural diversity with the community.”

Gal谩pagos finches, rare caterpillars

The museum buzzed with activity as visitors explored a diverse array of exhibits from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 research labs. Displays featured ocean creatures from and mantis shrimp from the . A collection of Gal谩pagos finches and snails from Bishop Museum鈥檚 Malacology Research Center were also on display. One of the most fascinating exhibits at the event showcased rare native species such as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 carnivorous caterpillars alongside invasive insects.

“We have over half a million specimens,” Rubinoff said. “Many of them date back to 1908, including species now extinct, making this collection invaluable for research and education.”

KT东精影业 radio host Alex Sosa reflected on his first Darwin Day experience.

“It鈥檚 been amazing to learn so much—from upside-down jellyfish to carnivorous plants. Honestly, I love seeing science come alive in such a fun, interactive way.”

at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo took center stage on PBS Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Home is Here series, showcasing the vital role bees play in agriculture and the university鈥檚 unique approach to hands-on learning.

Led by Professor Lorna Tsutsumi, 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 beekeeping program offers students a chance to gain practical experience in managing beehives while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

“You can go to the internet and look at pictures with and without pollination, and you can see how that affects our food choices, our food supply,” said Tsutsumi. “And knowing that, it becomes absolutely essential that we not only encourage beekeeping for the products, but we encourage bees for pollination.”

Hands-on learning hub

The university鈥檚 in Panaʻewa serves as a learning hub where students actively engage with the campus apiary. Under Tsutsumi鈥檚 mentorship and with the support of farm manager Jake Rodrique, students not only learn the science of beekeeping but also develop a broader understanding of the ecological and cultural importance of bees. 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , co-founded by renowned Chef Alan Wong, further supports these efforts by connecting community and sustainability through beekeeping education.

• Related 东精影业 News story: Bee-coming Sustainable: 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 sweet solution to bee sustainability, April 23, 2024

For students like ʻIliahi Tancayo from Molokaʻi, the program has been a transformative experience.

“I haven鈥檛 been up close to a bee ever in my life prior to this class,” said Tancayo who is earning a beekeeping certificate. “So being able to be properly suited and, you know, the safety gear and procedures in place, like, just being up close in the apiary gave me more actual interest in the bees because I got to be in their environment instead of being on the outside looking at a tiny little bee.”

Adopt-a-hive

. Adopters receive periodic updates and photos from 东精影业 Hilo students like Tancayo who are caring for their hives, along with a personal supply of honey and honey-related products.

For more go to .

researchers discovered five new endemic moth species during a survey of the Kamehamenui Forest Reserve on Maui in order to get a baseline biodiversity estimate prior to reforestation efforts. The survey was a collaboration between the (CTAHR) and the (DLNR).

Entomologist Dan Rubinoff of CTAHR鈥檚 , along with his grad students Camiel Doorenweerd and Kyhl Austin, discovered the moth species, all in Hyposmocoma, a remarkable genus of Hawaiian moths found nowhere else.

One of the new species was also found all the way at the peak of Haleakalā (at 3,045 meters), which they named Hyposmocoma kukilakila in tribute to the magnificent volcano. Two other species were named after Lance Da Silva of DLNR, which funded DNA results that led to the discoveries, and Kim Starr, who worked with the DLNR team that actively supported this research.

“We estimate about 50% of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 insect diversity is yet undiscovered and unnamed, and we know even less of how these species are part of the intricate and diverse Hawaiian ecosystems that are unique in the world,”said Rubinoff.

Naming undescribed species opens the door to gathering knowledge on the species, including what they eat, what eats them, their behavior and evolution, he explained. Understanding their position in the ecosystem can be used to set conservation priorities to try to prevent the extinction of the incredible diversity of insects that is unique to Hawaiʻi. Healthy ecosystems are the basis to any sustainable practice of agriculture, use of water, or any other use of natural resources.

“There is still hope for Hawaiian insects, but if we do nothing, we can expect hundreds of species going extinct in the coming decades without us ever even knowing they existed,” Rubinoff said. “The establishment of forest reserves and reforestation efforts offer hope for the preservation of Hawaiian insects.”

Visit to learn more.

A team of graduate students has brought home a win from the Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting on April 3, in Seattle, Washington. The team represented the graduate program in Entomology and the 鈥� (PEPS), University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR).

Consisting of students Michelle Au, John Adam Lawrence, Maisha Lucas and Juliana Salehi, the entomology team narrowly beat the University of California-Riverside in a tense tie-breaker, then went on to beat Washington State University in the final round.

The win qualifies them to compete at the national-level Entomology Games in November 2023 at the ESA鈥檚 annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The PEPS鈥� entomology team won the Entomology Games in 2021.

The students are graduate research assistants and undergraduate students in the research labs of Mark Wright and Jia-Wei Tay, both professors and extension entomologists. Students were coached by Wright.

“Our students put a lot of work into this,” said Wright. “They study all the time, including practice runs during lunch on a wide variety of topics in entomology down to the most obscure facts about insects. I鈥檓 confident our team will proudly represent 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 at the national contest in November.”

Tay added, “They did it, and we’re so proud of them! I have faith in our current team for the upcoming national competition!”

The ESA provides each team with a travel award to assist them in getting to the national meeting. The students are also supported by the Au Yeung, Sui Shan and Emmett Richard Easton Scholarship at CTAHR; Tanada Family Entomology Fund; and Nan-Yao and Jill H. Su Endowed Fund for Urban Entomology.

Small invertebrates and microfauna, such as endangered Hawaiian picture-winged flies, play an important role in providing balance to natural ecosystems.

Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife are working together to re-establish picture-winged fly populations, including Drosophila hemipeza, an endangered species. The project鈥檚 aim is to help restore ecosystem stability, support natural biodiversity, and reduce the likelihood of the species鈥� extinction.

Historically, picture-winged fly populations were found at multiple sites in both the Koʻolau and Waiʻanae mountain ranges of Oʻahu. Today, population numbers have greatly diminished, and their range has been significantly reduced. It is believed that Palikea, in the Waiʻanae Range, may be the only remaining site for these flies, where few are left.

“Contributing factors to their decline include a range of issues that a lot of other native insects face: deforestation, predation and competition from invasives, native host plant destruction from pigs, and climate change,” said Kelli Konicek, entomological research technician with the Hawaiʻi Invertebrate Program.

In conservation efforts, small invertebrates and microfauna often receive less attention than their larger animal counterparts, but their role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health is critical. By conserving endangered species such as the Hawaiian picture-winged fly, DLNR and 东精影业 are aiming to create holistic, restored ecosystems.

Improving fly fitness

The researchers are working to stem that tide, rearing D. hemipeza in a lab to introduce into the wild. Through experimentation and ingenuity working with more common and abundant fly species, and leveraging long-term knowledge developed by 东精影业 Mānoa researchers at the Hawaiian Drosophila Research Stock Center, the team developed an effective mass rearing regimen that has proven very effective.

“In the lab, we are trying different methods involving the microbiome to improve reproduction and to understand how a switch from a controlled lab diet and environment to field conditions may impact the flies,” said Joanne Yew, a researcher at the (PBRC) in the 东精影业 Mānoa and Konicek鈥檚 research mentor. “In our experiments, we provide microbe supplements, either from native host plants or from other Hawaiian Drosophila, to developing flies and assess the impact on physiological changes such as egg number and number of offspring.”

The flies are raised in the 东精影业 Mānoa , a facility led and managed by a team of PBRC researchers and faculty. Incorporating microbe supplements, the group hopes to ensure the reared flies are fit and healthy enough to be introduced into nature.

Successful reproduction

The team is slowly releasing these flies at a Mānoa Cliff Restoration site, containing several native host plant species in which D. hemipeza are known to breed. Native ʻōhā wai, hāhā and ōpuhe have been planted by a dedicated group of volunteers in cooperation with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife鈥檚 Plant Extinction Prevention Program.

Scientists began releasing D. hemipeza in October 2022, and by early January, Konicek observed the first unmarked D. hemipeza at the site, a sign that the species is successfully reproducing on its own.

“It鈥檚 really promising to observe flies at the site that we know are not lab-reared,” said DLNR Entomologist Cynthia King. “However, we鈥檒l need to continue the introductions to increase the likelihood the species will establish in the long-term.”

“There is a constant exchange of signals between animals and the microbes in their gut,” said Yew. “What we’re learning from the Hawaiian flies is that the microbiome can have large effects on host reproduction and behavior. Studying the Hawaiian Drosophila and their relationship with their gut microbes will allow us to understand how this sort of inter-kingdom chemical communication shapes the physiology of their host and may influence evolution.”

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 general public may not know the twolined spittlebug (TLSB), but scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have been intensely fighting the invasive insect since its discovery in Hawaiʻi in 2016. Within a scant eight generations, TLSB has spread to infest more than 176,000 acres of rangeland on the Big Island. In highly infested areas, the result was nearly 100% die back of key range forages, including kikuyu and pangola grasses. Their loss exposed the land to invasive plants such as pāmakani, wild blackberry and fireweed. Livestock producers faced devastating economic losses.

Within a scant eight generations, TLSB has spread to infest more than 176,000 acres of rangeland on the Big Island.

To combat the problem, the (CTAHR) Extension鈥檚 twolined spittlebug team has released a new reporting and decision-support smartphone app for the management of TLSB in Hawaiʻi. The tool allows users to learn about and correctly identify TLSB, giving landowners the ability to locate, map and manage outbreaks on their properties. Users can also assist experts as citizen-scientists by using the app鈥檚 reporting tool to geolocate sightings of the pest.

Tracking and documenting the spread of TLSB

“The app has four main features,” explains Mark Thorne, a CTAHR specialist. “First, an information guide that provides an overview of TLSB biology and ecology. Next, it helps users identify TLSB in the field and distinguish it from other, non-pest species. Third, users can report sightings of TLSB. Fourth, it allows users to determine the size of the TLSB population, and then, based on the potential damage threshold calculated, select from a series of integrated pest management decisions.”

The CTAHR team, which includes Specialist Mark Wright, Graduate Assistant Shannon Wilson and Assistant Extension Agent Melelani Oshiro, and Daniel Peck from Vestaron Corporation noted the reports include a geo-referenced picture and basic details about the habitat and geographical location of the pest. The reported data is then captured in a database and displayed on a web-based mapping tool.

Users have the option to enter data on TLSB population density and provide estimates on spatial extent and observed damage in their report. Data on TLSB populations is determined by following sampling protocols provided in the fourth tool.

“We spent two years drafting content and working with developers to get the app released, and we鈥檙e confident it will facilitate tracking and documenting the spread of this pest and lead to better pest management decisions for rangeland managers,” said Thorne.

To keep track of TLSB sightings, the team has created an administrative that displays a map of TLSB sighting reports by app users.

Go to the or to download the app.

The hala tree, its sprawling leaves famously used for woven lauhala pieces and iconic in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, is being threatened by a critical invasive pest—the hala scale. Experts at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR), the 东精影业 and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 teamed up to save the trees on campus. Thanks to their collaborative efforts, the pest was eradicated at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in August 2022.

The hala scale is an invasive insect that damages hala leaves as well as the tree鈥檚 fruit and young seedlings, which can prevent the regeneration of new hala. Common signs of infestation include wilted leaves and tiny black specks found primarily on the underside of leaves, as well as on the tops of leaves and on the hala fruit. Hala scale originated in H膩na, Maui in 1995 but has since spread to Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. In November 2021, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was identified as one of three Oʻahu hot spots of the pest.

Prior to hala scale removal, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was home to 54 hala trees. The hala scale on 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 campus was concentrated in two main areas: the lower campus athletics complex and the Kamakak奴okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. In addition to being a popular landscape plant, the hala is iconic in Hawaiʻi and Polynesia for its versatility.

“It was used by many cultures for thousands of years, most notably the leaves being used and woven into basic necessities at the time, 1,500 years ago,” said N艒weo Kai, curator at the 东精影业 Campus Arboretum. “It was used for medicine, famine food and fibers. Hala leaves (lauhala) were even used to make sails for double-hull canoes.”

Researching solutions

Zhiqiang Cheng, an associate professor and extension specialist at CTAHR鈥檚 Department of , has been researching hala scale with his since 2016.

“HDOA staff reached out to me in 2016, and asked me to review the hala scale infestation situation on Chaminade University鈥檚 campus and set up a field research trial there,” said Cheng. “I then received funding to conduct a larger scale research trial on Maui, where hala scale is widespread.”

Working alongside Cheng is Mason Russo, a CTAHR PhD student in . Their research has so far identified several low-risk insecticides that are effective against hala scale. One of the insecticides—imidacloprid—was used to combat the hala scale at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

Eradicating the pest

Starting in January 2022, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Landscape Services collaborated with Cheng and Russo to begin efforts for hala scale removal and treatment. Cheng communicated best practices for managing the pest, which landscaping then implemented.

Their efforts mainly involved the careful removal of infected hala. Landscaping personnel would cut down infected hala, placing it into a dedicated roll-off bin. After removal, they would drench the contents of the bin with imidacloprid (the insecticide that Cheng recommended), and leave the bin covered for two weeks before sending it to H-POWER for incineration. As a preventative measure, they also applied the insecticide to the ground below each tree that was removed. Anyone who worked on removal each day had to disinfect themselves and their tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent further spread of the pest.

Fifteen hala trees were removed from campus due to scale infestation. Hala that were not infested to the point of removal were also treated with imidacloprid. These efforts were well worth it, when the hala scale was officially deemed eradicated at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

Going forward, landscaping plans to continue the pesticide treatment on an annual basis. Through continued collaboration and due diligence, the hope is to prevent the remainder of the hala on campus from being infested and to mitigate further hala scale spread across Oʻahu.

—By Alisha Churma

A new species of wasp was discovered on the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 campus. Mymarommatoidea—a group of miniscule but very beautiful wasps, around 0.5 mm in length—had been emerging from branches of a banyan tree on campus. Living individuals in their natural environment have never been recorded in scientific literature.

东精影业 entomologists from the named the new species Mymaromma menehune—“menehune” because like the menehune, they are small and elusive, rarely seen. The study was published in the .

“It鈥檚 such a big world, so many little creatures living their lives doing all kinds of different things that us bigger, clumsier humans don鈥檛 often pick up on,” said David Honsberger, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 graduate research assistant. “Here, a tiny beautiful wasp about the size of a grain of dust, finds the eggs of another tiny insect laid in the texture of bark, and parasitizes and develops in them.”

The previously undescribed species belongs to the last major group of parasitoid wasps about which nearly nothing regarding their biology was known. Entomologists have scant records of these wasps and no records of what they parasitize and how they develop. They are called parasitoid wasps because they insert their eggs within the eggs or bodies of host insects.

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 researchers collected the banyan branches and scanned them under the microscope to locate any eggs laid on and under the bark. They then isolated the eggs in gel caps to see what would emerge. A few of the mymarommatids emerged. Researchers reared some of the same eggs and found they belonged to bark lice—the parasitoid-host association was confirmed. This species of mymarommatid parasitizes bark lice eggs. This is the first confirmation of the host species for any member of this group of wasps, a mystery since their first discovery 100 years ago.

The menehune wasps belong to a group that has a very unique body structure. The back of their head can expand like a bellows, their mandibles push outward instead of cut, they have beautiful fore wings with long setae (hair-like structures) around their edges, and hind wings consisting of just a stalk that forks at its end.

Because of their tiny size and short ovipositors, it was previously proposed that menehune wasps are likely parasitoids of arthropod eggs. Given their unique anatomy and patterns in collection records, it was suggested they might parasitize eggs of bark lice. This was suggested in part because the wasps may use their expandable head and reversed mandibles to break out through the flexible shell of bark lice eggs. They would then use their mandibles to open a tunnel to pass through the silk that some species of bark lice produce around their eggs. This recent discovery confirms these long-standing hypotheses.

The researchers involved in the discovery are Honsberger, Maya Honsberger and Mark Wright of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and John Huber of the Canadian National Collection of Insects. Also part of the team are Ali Miarkiani, Michelle Au, Shannon Wilson, Daniel Hausler, Vanessa Goodman and Laura Doucette of the Wright lab.

The discovery contributes to a deeper understanding of biodiversity. The more that is known about parasitoids, no matter how obscure, the more efficiently biological controls for invasive species can be developed in the future.

This effort is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

A team of students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa won the national championship at the at the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), held in-person in Denver, October 31–November 2.

Karim Gharbi, Mitchell Kirsch, Michelle Au, Kenneth Choi and faculty coach Mark Wright comprise the 东精影业 Entomology Games team, also known as Ka Mea Kolo. The team represented the Entomology Graduate Program in the for the (CTAHR).

To reach the finals, the CTAHR team first had to qualify at the ESA鈥檚 Pacific Branch Meeting, held virtually in March. They matched wits with a number of West Coast teams, losing to former champ University of California Riverside, but beating everyone else and thereby qualifying for the finals.

In Denver, they overcame that loss, first by beating the Rutgers University team in the preliminary rounds, then by stomping UC Riverside 80 to 20 in the first round of the finals. In the championship round, Ka Mea Kolo faced off against Texas A&M, a two-time winner and multiple finals appearance university. 东精影业 dominated Texas A&M, 110 to 45.

“This is the first time the University of Hawaiʻi has won this competition and it reflects the hard work, skill and dedication of our students and their coach, Mark Wright,” said Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences Professor Dan Rubinoff.

“They beat the giants convincingly,” added Wright. “Not bad for a small program! I鈥檓 proud of our students; they worked hard for this. In addition to being a great accomplishment for students, this brings considerable attention to UH and CTAHR, and raises our national profile quite nicely.”

The team members are all graduate students in the entomology labs at CTAHR. Kirsch also won Best Poster in the Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology category. Funding to help cover the students鈥� travel came from the and CTAHR New Faculty Start-Up Fund.

This effort/work/program/research/outreach/event is an example of UH 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Of the more than 500 species of yellow-faced bees worldwide, many are found only in Hawaiʻi, such as Hylaeus akoko (only on Hawaiʻi Island), or Hylaeus anomalus (only on Oʻahu). With extremely narrow ranges and sparse numbers, as well as human development, it鈥檚 no wonder they鈥檙e endangered.

But with $1 million in new funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service鈥檚 (FWS) Competitive State Wildlife Grant program, Hawaiʻi is among 16 states that can continue its efforts in protecting key wildlife species: Hawaiian yellow-faced bees, land snails and ʻelepaio birds. The project is an ongoing collaboration between the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and FWS鈥� Coastal Program.

“The program aims to understand the resource needs of and threats to endangered native species, including the yellow-faced bees, with the goal of developing management tools or strategies to recover their populations,” said Assistant Researcher Paul Krushelnycky of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR). “Yellow-faced bees are Hawaiʻi‘s only native bees, and they are important pollinators of native plants.”

Saving the bees

So far, researchers have learned about the plants both pollinated by these species and relied upon to provision their nests. They have also studied seasonal trends in the bees鈥� floral resource use and nesting activity, as well as competitors, predators and parasitoids that impact their success.

The grant will help leverage this information to guide plant restoration strategies, provide nesting habitats and conduct translocations to establish new populations.

“Over the past few years, my collaboration with Hawaiʻi DLNR and USFWS Coastal Program has yielded a lot of great information about the floral and nesting resource needs of endangered coastal yellow-faced bees,” said Krushelnycky, who is with CTAHR鈥檚 . “I’m excited that we can now continue this partnership and put that knowledge into practice, by restoring native habitat for these bees and revitalizing coastal ecosystems.”

“We are thrilled to be able to continue our work for the benefit of endangered yellow-faced bees,” added Cynthia King, principal investigator with Hawaiʻi DLNR, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. “The USFWS State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program has been pivotal in providing funds for native invertebrate conservation which wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be available for on-the-ground projects in Hawaiʻi. Past awards have allowed us to tackle immediate threats and conservation challenges relating to endangered kahuli tree snails and damselflies, and our state insect, the Kamehameha butterfly. This year鈥檚 invertebrate projects are great because they build off of knowledge and experience we鈥檝e gained during previous SWG projects.”

This research is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The population of the endemic w膿kiu bug, which can only be found on puʻu (cinder cones) on the summit of Maunakea, remains healthy according to the insect captures recorded during the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS) annual arthropod monitoring surveys this year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the w膿kiu from the candidate endangered species list in 2011 after CMS land stewards compiled years of research on the insect鈥檚 biology, genetics and habitat, assuring its conservation and protection.

This year, CMS land managers collected nearly 3,000 bugs from the live traps compared to about 400 bugs in the last two years. According to CMS, the increased abundance of captures this year could be a function of increased precipitation on the mountain this past year, as moisture is a limiting factor in the alpine ecosystem.

“Our commitment to monitoring native species on Maunakea goes beyond overseeing their condition and status,” said Greg Chun, CMS鈥� executive director. “We are deeply devoted to the protection and safeguarding of these precious species that live and breathe within this wahi pana.”

Commitment to stewardship on Maunakea

Every year, CMS places a variety of traps at more than 100 sites on the mauna to assess native species population levels and detect possible threats. Some trap locations require researchers to climb cinder cones that are 200-feet high. Each bug, no bigger than a grain of rice, is counted by hand in the field before they are released. The CMS team also notates each bug鈥檚 life stage and gender. All life stages and sexes were captured during the 2021 survey which infers that populations are growing and reproducing.

In 2011, CMS鈥� studies determined that the w膿kiu bug had a wider habitat range in the Alpine Stone Desert than previously known.

• Related 东精影业 News stories:
  • Native plant restoration efforts progressing on Maunakea, May 11, 2021
  • Volunteers protect precious m膩mane on Maunakea, remove invasive weeds, February 11, 2020
  • Grad student conducts in-depth arthropod research on Maunakea, August 23, 2021

“We鈥檙e monitoring puʻu in the summit region for w膿kiu bug abundance, distribution and demography to understand if these insects are reproducing and growing,” said Jessica Kirkpatrick, CMS鈥� natural resource specialist. “We鈥檙e also trying to get a sense of different invasive species threats that could potentially threaten the bug, things like ants are actually a number one threat to both the flora and fauna on the mountain.”

Kirkpatrick believes above average snow and rain events on Maunakea in 2020 and early 2021 could be a contributing factor to the increase in w膿kiu bug abundance. Insect populations are extremely variable from year to year and the w膿kiu bug shows this same trend.

“Nightly freezing temperatures are important for the insect, as the cold kills their prey,” Kirkpatrick explained. “The w膿kiu bug is a carnivorous scavenger that feeds on dead and dying insects that get blown up to the summit via wind processes. Non-resident insects are not adapted to the cold temperatures and eventually die and become food for the w膿kiu bug and other endemic residents such as the noctuid caterpillar/ moth (Agrotis kuamauna).The snow can act as a natural refrigerator keeping the wind blown insect prey fresh until it thaws and can be consumed by other native residents.”

Survival of the fittest

In the Hawaiian language, w膿kiu means summit or peak. The bugs are well-adapted to the mountain鈥檚 harsh environment that experience extreme temperature fluctuations each day, high ultraviolet radiation and low relative humidity associated with high-altitude environments. CMS has monitored the w膿kiu bug since 2002.

High atop the slopes of Maunakea, the alpine stone desert and subalpine māmane scrub habitats are home to the endemic wēkiu bug. This stone desert endemic insect, found only on this volcano, survives among some of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most iconic native flora and fauna.

To improve conservation and management efforts for these and other high-elevation invertebrates, graduate student researcher Brad Reil and advisor Dan Rubinoff from the (CTAHR) have traded in their T-shirts for winter wear to conduct in-depth field work in the alpine stone desert and subalpine m膩mane woodlands on Maunakea. Since 2018, they鈥檝e collected w膿kiu bug and other arthropod specimens to learn about the arthropods鈥� habits and dietary requirements, effects of introduced species and available resources between the alpine and subalpine habitats. The research duo is on a mission to map the food web connecting the mountain鈥檚 species.

“Maunakea is a special place for many reasons,” Reil explained. “Ecologically, the endemic species that call the mountain home are found nowhere else on earth and have adapted to the harsh dry cold conditions on the volcano. At the summit, the aeolian stone desert ecosystem obtains much of its resources from wind-borne materials (bits of plants, dead insects, dust, etc.) instead of plant species, resulting in uniquely adapted inhabitant species such as the wēkiu bug.”

• Related 东精影业 News story: First endangered ʻuaʻu observed on Maunakea in more than 60 years, July 8, 2021

The multi-year study funded by the 东精影业 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship (previously the Office of Maunakea Management) is nearly complete. Reil, who works in CTAHR鈥檚 Insect Systematics and Biodiversity Lab, will soon switch from the specimen collection phase to processing and analyzing results before writing final reports.

“This research is exciting because it will provide information about the underlying interactions between the arthropod species that support these diverse habitats, and will help to ensure we have the knowledge necessary to properly manage and conserve them,” added Reil.

This effort/work/program/research/outreach/event is an example of 东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 is working to re-establish damselflies to waters at the 惭腻苍辞补 Valley property with the state 鈥� (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife鈥檚 Hawaiʻi Invertebrate Program (HIP).

Teams have worked to remove invasive fish from the pond and restock it with aquatic plants. They also removed dragonflies from the water before the endangered insects were introduced.

“It鈥檚 fantastic that Lyon Arboretum can collaborate with state agencies to provide additional habitat for an endangered damselfly,” Lyon Arboretum Director Rakan Zahawi said. “A core goal of ours at Lyon is to play a prominent role in the conservation of the state鈥檚 unique species and this project does just that.”

Damselflies are closely related to dragonflies but have smaller, more delicate bodies. Six species are listed as endangered, including the Orangeblack Hawaiian damselflies (Megalagrion xanthomelas; the Hawaiian name is pinapinao) that are being released at Lyon and at other sites on Oʻahu in an effort to kick-start their population and prevent yet another extinction of a native Hawaiian insect.

“Our strategy began with collecting eggs from the only existing population of this species on Oʻahu at Tripler Army Medical Center in late 2018,” said William Haines of DLNR鈥檚 HIP. “We then hatch the eggs out in our captive-rearing facility in Kailua. They hatch into aquatic larvae called naiads, then we raise them up and release them about two months later (just prior to the adult stage) into a stream or ponds. We hope after they emerge as adults they stay around the release site and lay eggs to hopefully establish a population.”

The painstaking work is being conducted in partnership with 东精影业, the and the U.S. Army’s Natural Resources Program.

Damselflies are in distress. Once abundant in Hawaiian stream and wetland environments, pressure from agriculture, stream disturbances and introduced species has resulted in many species now becoming endangered. Among their main threats are introduced fish species like the mosquito fish. As tough as their plight is, it鈥檚 equally challenging to gather reliable data on how they鈥檙e doing.

“Insects are small and cryptic,” said Haines. “They鈥檙e often camouflaged, and their behaviors can make them elusive. They often fly up into the canopy of trees so it鈥檚 really difficult to get absolute population counts.”

A live bee hive was the featured attraction for more than 300 attendees at 鈥檚 Second Saturday event in Pearl City on June 9. The Bee Hui, a group of trained volunteers who raise bees at the center and provide community education about bees鈥� and other pollinators鈥� essential services, were on hand to show the insects up close. Honey tastings were provided, and visitors could see how honey is extracted and the tools used for honeybee hive maintenance.

“We came today because it is a good learning experience for my daughter,” said Carla Salinas of ʻEwa Beach.

“I made a butterfly pin and tasted honey. Bees make honey!” chimed in five-year-old Isabella Salinas.

Paul Krushelnycky, from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR), shared information on Hawaiian yellow-faced bees, 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 only native bee, which is seen mostly in high elevations. CTAHR鈥檚 Christina Mogren introduced guests to the life cycle of bees by making bee hotels. A bee鈥檚 life cycle evolves from egg to larva to pupa and, finally, to adult in 21 days.

东精影业 master gardeners displayed information about least toxic pesticides for the backyard. Visitors learned that the time of application is important, such as the evening when pollinators are not active. They also learned about integrating pest management practices like creating a balance of good bugs and bad bugs in the backyard.

“The pollinator event provides fun and informative educational activities to alert Hawaiʻi homeowners to the insects that pollinate their home gardens such as honeybees, carpenter bees and butterflies, and to the native pollinators found only in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 ecosystems,” said 东精影业 Master Gardener Jody Smith.

The event was presented by , an official educational outreach and volunteer program of 东精影业 CTAHR鈥檚 Cooperative Extension Service. 东精影业 Master Gardeners are volunteers who share local, research-based information with the gardening public to promote sound decisions in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 backyards and school gardens.

A team created quite the buzz with two videos developed to raise public awareness about bees.

Ethel M. Villalobos, director of the ; Jonathan Koch, a conservation entomologist specializing in bees and Jonathan Wright, a graphic designer with Hazard Design, won awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA) for their videos, and .

The Life History of Bees , which won first place in the Plant-Insect Ecosystems Pollinator Video Competition, introduces the viewer to a variety of bee species and their life cycles. The emphasis is on honeybees, but the video includes natural history information about wild bees in the tropics and temperate regions.

The Odd Couples which won second place in the ESA‘s “YouTube Your Entomology” video competition, is an animated short addressing the ancient and crucial relationship between flowering plants and pollinators.

The team was inspired to create the videos, Villalobos explained, because “communication is key to public awareness and to the development of informed decisions.” These videos provide biological information in an easy-to-understand format.

graduate students Kirsten Poff, Scott Nikaido, and Zhening Zhang contributed video clips, photos and narration. Villalobos contributed 2D animation, video clips and photos. Koch helped edit and narrate the video and Wright provided 3D animation, and video/sound editing.

“As scientists we are trained to be precise and detail minded, but we often fail at making things attractive or fun for the general public,” Villalobos said.

“We wanted to produce videos that would allow us to express the science but also incorporate our artistic vision and a little humor. We needed to explain certain ideas without using jargon or sounding too technical and without sacrificing valuable content,” she said.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to learn how they can help bees on an individual level,” explained Koch. “Our video provided a platform for us to talk about the value of bees to a broader audience.”

See .

贬补飞补颈驶颈鈥檚 honey market is skyrocketing. The state鈥檚 bee farms have the highest honey yield in the nation, generating more than 100 pounds per colony per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thousands of 贬补飞补颈驶颈-grown queen bees are also exported every week.

Beyond the liquid gold, bees and other pollinators are critical to the health of our food supply and ecosystem. The University of 贬补飞补颈驶颈 plays an important role in supporting the state鈥檚 honeybees and other pollinators. The at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 does research on honeybee health, pest-management strategies and the development of 鈥減ollinator-friendly鈥� farms.

鈥淲e really heavily rely upon the honeybee to provide pollination of different crops such as your lychee, your longan, to your pumpkins and squashes that you see on the farms and you see in the markets,鈥� notes Scott Nikaido, a research technician with the 东精影业 Honeybee Project.

东精影业 Honeybee Project members have trained a group of volunteers known as the Bee Hui to help to spread the word through community outreach and education.

鈥淓veryone can have an impact in their daily lives about helping pollinators or supporting our environment鈥攖heir choice of pesticide, for example, and the flowers that they plant,鈥� says Bee Hui volunteer Pamela Hinsdale.

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 graduate student Jackie Smith volunteers with the Bee Hui because she says public education key.

鈥淲e need food and just the overall health of the ecosystem,鈥� says Smith. 鈥淪o those are two big things as to why pollinators are important and the public should care.鈥�

There鈥檚 a lot the public can do to help to protect our bees, other pollinators and our food supply.

Nikaido, from the 东精影业 Honeybee Project, advises, 鈥淛ust try to plant more crops in your backyard. Be more pesticide free if you can. And buy local honey. That鈥檚 one of the biggest things you can do to support your honeybees, is buy local honey from your local beekeepers.鈥�

Visit the for more information and to get involved.

鈥擝y Kelli Trifonovitch

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It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a neighborhood to get rid of little fire ants (LFA).聽The invasive species is so fearsome that residents of Hawaiʻi Island have abandoned yards, gardens and sometimes entire rooms in their houses to avoid the nasty sting.聽 An abundance of misinformation about dealing with the LFA has combined with overworked experts and frustrated residents to create a larger problem than the island community should have to endure.

The (BIISC), a project of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s , is working to overcome these obstacles, putting effective, proven treatments into the hands of Hawaiʻi residents.聽Residents are trained to combat the LFA together with neighbors on adjacent properties, increasing the treatments’ efficacy while decreasing the cost per residence, without demanding constant, direct involvement by experts.

Neighbors attend information sessions, then consult with each other to determine their neighborhoods’ best strategies and goals.聽Once they’ve committed to regular treatments of their properties, the BIISC gives them hands-on workshops, teaching them to prepare baits and treatments for their residences. BIISC also coordinates further goal-setting, treatment schedules, meeting dates and bulk purchases of supplies in order to reduce costs, divide work and minimize effort and time.

The program proved effective in combating ants, with reductions up to 80 percent in LFA counts.

In its first year, the program has conducted information sessions in five districts on the island, with 13 groups of neighbors completing the training.聽Twelve of the 13 groups have continued to treat for LFA each month, for a total of 215 separate properties on 222 acres.聽In 2017, thanks in part to a grant from the , the LFA will continue to work with the 12 active neighborhood teams and add up to 12 more, also introducing training programs for landscapers and yard service providers.

Empowering communities to cooperate against a shared threat, the BIISC hopes to continue its training program, uniting neighbors and ridding Hawaiʻi of this non-native pest.