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Grasshopper outbreak challenges conservation status of a small Hawaiian Island

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Abstract

A tiny (63.1 ha) and uninhabited Nihoa Island within the Hawaiian Archipelago is situated 250 km NW of Kauai. It is a part of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument established in 2006 and jointly administered by NOAA, USFWS, and the State of Hawaii (Department of Land and Natural Resources). The island’s known terrestrial biota include 26 vascular plant species, 27 bird species, and 243 arthropod species. Approximately half of the species are endemic to Nihoa or indigenous to Hawaii. Four plant species and two resident bird species are federally listed as threatened or endangered species. Gray bird grasshopper Schistocerca nitens has occurred on the main Hawaiian Islands since 1964 and was first reported from Nihoa in 1977. In 2002–2004, there was an outbreak of this grasshopper that aggravated the drought and denuded most of the island’s vegetation. Since then, grasshopper numbers crashed, most probably due to insufficient soil moisture for embryonic development. With subsequent rains, the island’s vegetation recovered. During the USFWS expedition to Nihoa in October 2006, grasshopper population assessments were undertaken. Based on 18, 300 × 2 m transect counts, the Nihoa grasshopper population was estimated at 19,430 ± 10,360 individuals. Laboratory rearing of S. nitens revealed that its development occurs without diapause. Potentially, the grasshopper can produce as many as four annual generations on Nihoa, although it is likely that only two generations occur. This article reviews the implications of fluctuations in S. nitens population dynamics for island flora and entomo- and avifauna, in particular, for the endangered endemics, the insectivorous Millerbirds. Potential threats to the island’s biota and challenges for conservation are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to all members of the Nihoa team (Beth Flint and Anan Raymond (USFWS), and Kekuewa Kikiloi (NOAA)), for their great camaraderie during our 11 days on the island. I would like to specially thank Beth Flint for her patience, enthusiasm, and infectious fondness for all forms of life encountered during our island adventure. Special thanks go to Cindy Rehkemper (USFWS) for taking care of all our supplies, keeping in touch, and for answering those crazy phone calls from Wyoming. The author is indebted to Mike Richardson (USFWS) for his invaluable help with all aspects of preparation for the trip. Dr. Frank Howarth’s (Bishop Museum) advice and guidance were very useful in dealing with Nihoa arthropod fauna. His colleagues at Bishop Museum, Dr. Neal Evenhuis and Mr. Shepherd Myers were also very helpful. Experience and support of MV Kahana crew and other Kahana passengers was very much appreciated, especially during always treacherous landing on and departing from Nihoa. The author is grateful to Peacock Industries, Inc. for supplying untreated EcoBran® for baiting experiments. Support from USFWS is gratefully acknowledged. Without it, this trip would have never materialized for me. Partial financial support came from the University of Wyoming (Association for Applied Acridology International). The author is grateful to Dr. Jeffrey Lockwood and Ms. Tracy Baldyga (University of Wyoming) for their suggestions on the earlier version of the manuscript as well as to two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism. Special thanks go to Dr. Gordon Nishida (University of California at Berkeley) for his most valuable insights regarding the history of S. nitens on Hawaii.

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  1. University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3354 – Renewable Resources, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

    Alexandre V. Latchininsky

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Correspondence to Alexandre V. Latchininsky.

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Latchininsky, A.V. Grasshopper outbreak challenges conservation status of a small Hawaiian Island. J Insect Conserv 12, 343–357 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-008-9143-8

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