Results of a preliminary Wekiu bug survey along HELCO power line conduit lines near Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Mauna Kea, Hawaii): July 13-15, 2011

Author:

Eiben, Jesse

Title:

Results of a preliminary Wekiu bug survey along HELCO power line conduit lines near Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Mauna Kea, Hawaii): July 13-15, 2011

Year:

2011

Subject:

Wekiu bug Nysius wekiuicola Endangered species Wekiu bug surveys Insects alpine climate

Summary:

The wekiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola Ashlock and Gagne) is a small, wingless, scavenger lygaeid bug found only in the summit region of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This insect is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. This report details a survey to look for wekiu bug activity and broadly assess if the area is possibly habitable to the wekiu bug in the area proposed for the Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) power line upgrades. Wekiu bugs were found during this three day survey. The cinder directly on top of the conduit line is inhabited by wekiu bugs on the lower North and Northeast slopes of the Puu Kau Kea, adjacent to Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (NAR) land, and it is most likely that wekiu bugs will be found in the vicinity of Puu Hau Kea. No wekiu bugs were found in the vicinity of the unnamed cinder cone near the first parking lot on the paved part of Mauna Kea Access Road above 11,000 ft. Wekiu bugs were found at two control locations that have been surveyed extensively over the past six years, and are not in the direct path of any proposed HELCO activity (Poi Bowl at base of Puu Hau Oki, and the unnamed cinder cone to the south of the Very Large Base Array (VLBA) facility). Significant impact to wekiu bug populations is not expected if the disturbance to cinder habitat at HELCO pull-boxes is minimized. Driving vehicles along the conduit line to each pull-box may affect wekiu bugs negatively in the area of Hau Kea, and may need further assessment. Access to each HELCO pull-box from a location perpendicular to the box along the road is preferred over driving equipment on top of the conduit line in wekiu bug inhabited areas.

Date:

2011

Collection:

Monographs