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Posted: Monday, August 8th, 2005 12:07 PM HST

Tiny species of wasp threatening native wiliwili tree

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) -- A tiny species of wasp that scientists only identified last year is invading the islands and threatening to kill off the native wiliwili tree. Since scientists found the Erythrina gall wasp on Oahu in April, it has left an unsightly trail of defoliation among the wiliwili trees and red-flowering Indian coral trees on the island. The wasp has also been discovered damaging trees on Kauai, Maui and the Kona side of the Big Island in the past few weeks. The wasp is a grave threat to the native wiliwili, a species mentioned in the ancient creation chant, the Kumulipo. The native wiliwili is also used to craft surfboards, canoe outriggers, and fish net floats. Some members of the conservation and science community have started collecting seeds from the native wiliwili in case the ancient low dryland forest tree is wiped out. Officials here suspect the tiny insect -- no larger than a grain of sand -- made its way to Hawaii in a shipment from Taiwan. (Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)