U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Date of this Version
July 2004
Abstract
Citric acid is being used as a management tool for controlling populations of two Caribbean tree frog species (Eleutherodactylus coqui and E. planirostris) that have recently become established in Hawaii. More than 300 frog populations have been identified on the four largest islands. Frog populations can reach densities greater than 20,000 individuals per hectare in heavily infested sites. The frogs have the potential to affect Hawaii’s floriculture industry, representing $88 million in annual sales, because of an interisland quarantine measure for plans infested with coqui frogs. Thus, there has been a rising concern for greenhouse owners to acquire tools to manage frog populations and to treat plants prior to shipping.
Comments
Published in Hawaii Landscape July/August 2004.