UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship - Research Library

A preliminary survey of wekiu bug populations at Puu Hau Kea, in the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Hawaii Island, Hawaii

Author:
Polhemus, Dan A.
Title:
A preliminary survey of wekiu bug populations at Puu Hau Kea, in the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
Year:
2001
Pages:
4
Subject:
Wekiu bug Nysius wekiuicola Surveys Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve
Summary:
The wekiu bug, (Nysius wekiuicola), is a flightless seed bug in the family Lydaeidae occurring in the alpine deserts surrounding the summit of Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii island. The ongoing construction of astronomy facilities on this mountain has raised concerns regarding possible degradation of wekiu bug habitat, and the consequent impact on long term population viability of the species as a whole. Although previous studies examined these questions in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, none had assessed wekiu bug densities in the State of Hawaii's adjacent Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, even though the latter represented the largest intact block of undisturbed alpine habitat near the summit of the mountain. At the urging of Betsy Gagne and Bill Stormont State of Hawaii's Natural Reserves System (NARS), a set of pitfall traps was emplaced at Puu Hau Kea in the Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR in mid-June 2001 to obtain a preliminary estimate of wekiu bug densities and distributions. Given the low bug catches obtained by previous study teams in the late 1990's, it was considered unlikely that large numbers of bugs would be found. The results of the trapping at Puu Hau Kea, however, revealed this particular crater to harbor dense and actively reproducing populations of wekiu bugs, with a particular concentration on the rim and inner slopes. These results raise interesting questions regarding the apparent low population densities of wekiu bugs on adjacent Puu Wekiu (the highest cone on the mountain) and Puu Hauoki, indicating that reassessments of both construction impacts and previous survey methodologies may be in order.
Date:
10 July 2001
Collection:
Monographs