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Follow on Google News | Scientists Fix Hawaii's Wasp Problem NaturallyFor three years Hawaii was under serious attack. However, with a little ingenuity and scientific-know-how, the island is once again safe from a pest that could have caused the extinction of the Wiliwili.
By: Geena Ushkowitz When the Erythrina gall wasp came to town, they spread with the force of an attacking army. Scientists recall the pest having spread throughout one island in six weeks, and moving on to all of Hawaii's islands within the year. What made them pests? They would lay their eggs on the Wiliwili and the larvae, through several stages, would eat up the tree's nutrition, making it difficult for the trees to produce the seeds it needs to propagate as well as leaving the tree dead. After three years of the attack, botanists believed that the trees were in serious danger of extinction, and they even began collecting healthy seeds in order to save the specie. The state had to spend a fortune trying to remove dead trees, almost a million dollars. Given the gravity of the situation, ecologists from the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture took action. Their solution? One mother nature had specifically designed. They brought in an East African parasitic wasp that would feast on the larvae of the predator, yet leave wasp species native to Hawaii in peace. The plan worked! Scientists say they began seeing changes in just a few months, and now, they are well on their way to not having much of a problem any longer. The East African wasps had turned the Erythrina gall wasps into minor pests instead of vicious predators. This was a great victory for the research team, especially because the solution was a natural one and didn't have to use any pesticides, which would have been harmful towards their native wasps as well. Now, unaffected trees can remain unaffected and continue to pollinate the islands. Despite the success of the project, scientists remain realistic. Leyla Kaufman, a university entomologist believes that though they've won a significant battle, the war isn't over. They are yet to see if the recovered trees can produce seeds that will germinate to form new trees. This will be the next step because it will determine what they have to do in order to restore the Wiliwili to its glory. End
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