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PROJECT REPORT TMT BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AND INSPECTIONS

Calendar Year 2014

To: Sandra Dawson, TMT Observatory Corporation

From: Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

Subject: Final Project Report: Implementation of a Biological Monitoring and Inspection Protocol on (Calendar Year 2014)

BIISC has completed the 2014 required monitoring and inspections according to OMKM- approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Inspections

BIISC conducted 15 on-site inspections of equipment, trailers, or trucks. At several of these the inspector spent significant time training the operator/shipper on requirements of the inspections, and supervising some amount of remediation work. If the problem could be addressed immediately on site, the shipment was approved. Two inspections were rejected, where the hauler had made no attempt whatsoever to clean, remove debris and unnecessary material, and trucks were stored in lots overgrown with invasive weeds including fountain grass. The trucks were subsequently cleaned and reinspected.

A single inspection of cargo other than heavy equipment--chairs for a ceremony-- passed without any problems. Biological Monitoring

Weekly monitoring

Weekly monitoring for invasive ( and ) and weeds were carried out as required in support of a short term geotechnical study of the proposed project site. Traps were placed at fifteen predetermined locations according to the OMKM- approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) #10, a weekly facility monitoring protocol adapted for the outdoors. Twenty-two traps were set and collected weekly, including ant vials and arthropod sticky traps (Table 1).

After traps were set, each site was surveyed for plants and arthropods for about 20 minutes. Weeds were pulled and root masses were checked for ants. All species encountered were recorded on weekly monitoring datasheets.

Insects were sorted, identified to order, and curated by BIISC staff. Higher-order identification was conducted or supervised by UH Hilo Entomologist Jesse Eiben, Ph.D. Model specimens were retained as vouchers by Dr. Eiben to add to the OMKM arthropod reference collection. Remaining specimens were disposed of.

Trap Type Description Purpose Ant Vial A plastic vial baited with peanut Provides carbohydrate, fat, protein, and butter, jelly, and spam moisture to attract ants. Vial is deployed for 1- 2 hours during warm sunny weather, collected the same day. Baited Sticky A cardboard trap with a sticky base Provides carbohydrate, fat, protein, and Trap (e.g. Hoy Hoy brand roach traps) moisture to attract ants and other insects. baited with peanut butter, jelly, Traps occasional crawling and flying insects. and spam. Deployed for one whole week. Increases probability of capturing single foraging ants and crawling arthropods in sticky traps. Table 1. Traps used during weekly monitoring.

Relatively few specimens were collected at any site using these methods (116 out of 1,363). Commonly trapped insects included varieties of common flies and small wasps, native Lycosid spiders, ladybird beetles (ladybugs), and common native and non-native seed bugs ( spp.). A single potentially threatening specimen of Coleoptera was recovered, an adult copra beetle, the larvae of which feed on protein rich tissue, such as copra and rotting or dried meat. This tropical species has been long established in lower elevations in Hawaii and is unlikely to establish a population the summit due to the lack of adequate food source for larval development. As long as carcasses and food trash do not become widespread new food sources, this species is unlikely to become established on the Mauna Kea Summit.

A single specimen of an ant species, Plagiolepis alluaudi, the little yellow ant, was found in a sticky trap. The single worker ant was so minute it was spotted only under a microscope by the entomology technician back in the lab. This finding launched a full scale response effort, advised by Cas Vanderwoude of the Hawaii Ant Lab, and project entomologist Jesse Eiben, which included surveying a large area around the ant collection using baited vials, adapted to make it easier to spot the little, almost transparent, ants of this species. No other ants were found. Prior to the collection, several offerings were left and an ahu was erected near the site, in addition to the activity of the geotechnical work. Having found no evidence of an established colony, it was concluded that the non-reproductive worker ant had been incidentally carried to the site by human activity, but no further action was taken. Protocols were updated to use vials baited with peanut butter, spam, and cotton balls soaked in sugar water to make it easier to spot this type of ant in the future.

Within the vicinity of the traps at the construction site, two common native grass species (Agrostis sandwicensis and Trisetum glomeratum), and at least one native fern (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum) were found. There were generally less than ten individual plants per site. The TMT Access Way was uniformly barren.

Overall, the weekly monitoring protocol was relatively fast and simple. Traveling to and from the summit (4 hours including acclimatization) took longer than the field work (2-3 hours) most days. The very low number of specimens in sticky traps was probably a fair reflection of the flightless arthropod populations in these sites. Although almost no specimens were caught in ant vials at the summit, they are the method of choice for field monitoring across the state, and is successful at attracting most species in Hawaii within 15-30 minutes, so we do not recommend any changes. In addition, the weekly visits afforded opportunities to discuss invasive species issues informally with contractors and check for compliance with preventative measures, including keeping the site clean and free of garbage or debris, trucks clean and in good working order, weekly removal of cultural offerings, etc.

Monthly and Annual Arthropod Monitoring Protocols Monthly monitoring was carried out before, during, and after the geotechnical work at eleven predetermined sites found in the OMKM- approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Work followed the OMKM Annual Arthropod Monitoring Protocol, adapted for TMT. No TMT compliance sites were omitted or modified from the location codes given in the OMKM- approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Three types of traps were set at eight of the eleven sites (Table 2). The unbaited (wet) pitfall trap was omitted from the eight sites that are known Nysius wekiuicola (wekiu bug) habitat, to avoid impact to that species. All our types of traps were set at the remaining three sites which are not located in Nysius wekiuicola habitat.

After traps were set, each site was surveyed for plants and arthropods for about 20 minutes. Weeds were pulled and root masses were checked for ants. All species encountered were recorded on monthly monitoring datasheets and inputted on an excel data spreadsheet.

Traps were left out for three consecutive nights then all were collected in a single work day. Insects were sorted, identified to order, and curated by BIISC staff. Rare species and higher-order identification was conducted or supervised by UH Hilo Entomologist Jesse Eiben, Ph.D. Model specimens were retained as vouchers by Dr. Eiben to add to the OMKM arthropod reference collection.

Trap Type Description Purpose PBJS A chopstick baited with peanut Provides carbohydrate, fat, protein, and butter, jelly, and spam moisture to attract ants. Baited Pitfall A sunken cup trap baited with tuna Fish provides protein to attract predatory (wekiu trap) fish insects including wekiu. Water and shelter provided for wekiu survival.

Yellow Pan A weighted yellow bowl containing Yellow attracts flying insects, particularly propylene glycol Hymenoptera, which are social and predatory insects of concern. Unbaited A sunken cup containing food Passive collection method. Arthropods fall in Pitfall grade propylene glycol and are preserved by the glycol.

Annual Arthropod Monitoring Protocol (Biological Monitoring Along Access Way)

One round of annual biological monitoring was conducted at the TMT Construction Site, along the proposed TMT Access Way, at the Batch Plant, and at the HP Staging Area. Access Way sites were monitored twice. Trapping protocol and schedule followed guidelines of the Conservation District Use Application, Appendix E (Arthropod Monitoring Protocol), and are inclusive of the monthly monitoring protocol (i.e. when annual monitoring is done, the monthly protocol and sites are included, not repeated). Additional trap types are included as recommended by the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) under their Early Detection and Wekiu Bug Monitoring SOP. Additional trap types were intended to broaden the ability to collect novel invasive species that might avoid baited pitfall traps. Plant species were listed at each trap site, and hand pulled at all sites except Hale Pohaku. Standard operating procedure with detailed methods is attached.

Results

Monitors collected, identified, and recorded 1,268 arthropod specimens during monthly and annual sampling in 2014. The most common species were discarded after being identified and recorded. The rare species and higher-order identification was conducted or supervised by UH Hilo Entomologist Jesse Eiben, Ph.D. Model specimens were retained as vouchers by Dr. Eiben to add to the OMKM arthropod reference collection. No new arthropod threats were identified in 2014. Arthropod findings listed in detail in Appendix 1: Final Entomology Report from the lab of Dr. Jesse Eiben (attached). Each “potential” threat species was determined to be both common on the island, and previously captured from the summit. There are no realistic control options for these potential threats, and no reason to suspect their presence would be exacerbated by construction activity. No new plant species were found during the 2014 monitoring period. Plants at summit sites were infrequent, and included native Trisetum glomeratum, Agrostis sandwicensis, and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. At Hale Pohaku, plants were only counted within the mostly barren staging area/parking lot. These included three common weeds: Verbascum thapsus, Erodium cicutarium, and Oenothera stricta. The more densely vegetated surrounding areas were scanned on each visit for new species and conditions, with nothing of note to report.

Thirty Meter Telescope Invasive Species Monitoring for High-Risk Arthropods for BIISC

Arthropod Specimen Taxonomic Report, 2014

Marleena Sheffield and Dr. Jesse Eiben

University of Hawaii at Hilo, College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management

December 16, 2014

The following Tables represent the major taxa collected by BIISC and submitted to the Applied Entomology Lab at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The taxonomic status and definitive species-level identifications of the specimens contained in this report is ongoing. All material designated as a potential risk species on Mauna Kea is held in the taxonomic labs of Dr. Jesse Eiben and collaborating specialists.

The first three tables (August, September, October-November) represent the taxa collected for each sampling event by month, omitting specific dates and sampling locations (all data details is available, and has been submitted to BIISC). All tables record orders and families (if known), with only the Complete Species List including genera, species, and morphospecies numbers/descriptions. Total numbers of morphospecies/taxa, individuals, and potential threats are shown in the blue rows following each sampling event, trap type, and order (in the Complete Species List only, which also has overall counts at the end). The Trap type and Threats by Trap Type tables are organized by trap type, with the second table showing threats only.

August

September

October-November

Trap Type

Threats by Trap Type

Complete Species List

Total Order Family Genus Species Morphospecies Morphospecies description Individuals Acari 1 1 1 Araneae Clubionidae Small, gray, light brown legs 2 Clubionidae Dark brown, cephalothorax with lighter band1 Clubionidae Pale brown with grey abdomen with1 two dorsal rows of white dots Lycosidae Lycosa 5 Salticidae Very small, reddish-brown, white hairs 1 ? Extremely small pale spider with very long1 legs 6 11 Coleoptera Cleridae Necrobia rufipes 1 Coccinellidae Hippodamia convergens 5 2 6 Collembola Entomobryidae Gray-tan, hairy springtail 3 1 3 Diptera Muscidae Small, light, green-gray, with distinct black9 hairs Muscidae Small, roundish, black-grey 14 Muscidae Greenish, slender, yellow halteres 1 Muscidae Medium, black, very hairy 1 Muscidae Small, dark gray, tapered abdomen 1 Phoridae Small, black, hairy head, rounded 188 Sarcophagidae Sciaridae Small, brown-gray 4 Sciaridae Medium- to light-brown, somewhat small 23 Sciaridae Large 13 Sciaridae Small, bluish 1 Syrphidae Hoverfly 2 Syrphidae Large hoverfly 4 Tachinidae Gray, black-striped 1 ? Wasp-like, metallic black, yellow-black legs,6 green halteres ? Small, dark gray-black, green halteres, very15 hairy 16 283 Aphididae Black, winged 3 Aphididae Pale, winged, red eyes 1 Geocoridae Geocoris pallens 2 Geocoridae Geocoris pallens or punctipes 5 Nysius palor 419 Lygaeidae Nysius lichenicola? 1 Lygaeidae Nysius blackburni? 1 Lygaeidae Nysius wekiuicola 5 Lygaeidae Nysius terrestris 1 Lygaeidae Nysius spp. 68 Miridae Lygus elisus 1 Miridae Orthotylus sophoricola 1 Psyllidae 149 13 657 Hymenoptera Braconidae Diaeretiella rapae 2 Braconidae Mp 1 Small, black, tibiae/tarsi yellow, conspicuous27 stigma Braconidae Small, totally black, conspicuous stigma 5 Braconidae Small, black, brown legs, conspicuous stigma1 Eulophidae? Small, metallic green 2 Eurytomidae Small, metallic, green 4 Eurytomidae/Pteromalidae Extremely small, black, round body 1 Formicidae Plagiolepis alluaudi "the little yellow ant" - common name 1 Ichneumonidae Medium, black, brown/yellow abdomen 1 Ichneumonidae Mp 1 Small, black, tibiae/tarsi yellow 1 Ichneumonidae Mp 4 Medium-small, black wasp, yellow legs, brown1 petiolate abdomen, curly brown antennae Pteromalidae Very small, black, legs lighter below femora1 Scelionidae Baeus 2 Scelionidae Black, yellow legs, antennae filiform 1 ? Small, black, metallic, large head 2 ? Metallic, black wasp, small 1 ? Extremely small, black 1 ? Small, black, legs yellow below femora, darkened14 stigma ? Small, completely black 2 19 70 Lepidoptera Noctuidae Brown caterpillar 7 Noctuidae Brown larva, yellow markings on head 1 2 8 Psocoptera Psocidae Small, brown 2 1 2 Siphonaptera Pulicidae Amber-colored flea 10 1 10 Thysanoptera Thripidae Yellow-gray, winged 1 1 1 Total taxa = 64 Total specimens = 1052