New weapon found to fight coqui (if you live in Hawai'i)

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/29/ln/ln17a.html

State agriculture officials are working toward U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval to use hydrated lime to control coqui frog populations.

The product, commonly used as a soil amendment to reduce acidity, is also called slaked lime or calcium hydroxide. It is cheaper and in some ways easier to use than the other common coqui frog-control chemical, citric acid, said Kyle Onuma, the state Department of Agriculture weed specialist in Hilo, Hawai'i, who figured out that hydrated lime might work.

Onuma said he used lime when he grew ginger commercially, and recalled that if it got on his skin, he would feel a burning sensation if he sweated. Since coqui frogs have moist skin, he though it might work against the animals.

[4morewars]

1. More here:

http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/species/frogs/

Invasive species are a serious threat to native species. The zebra mussel in the great lakes is now moving to smaller lakes here in Michigan. The popular bouquet component, "baby's breath" is another invasive that crowds out native species.

[blindpig]

4. the detailed info links didn't work

While I'm very up to speed on invasive species and their adverse effects as a general principle I was wondering what the specific ecological concerns were with this species. I know there are no native amphibs for them to compete with & the complaint about their calls seems a bit namby pamby.(Love frogs calls. Had 4 species calling at the house last night)

[Cocoa]

2. I find their call pleasant

I wasn't aware that anyone considered the coqui to be a pest, although of course their impact on the alien environment is a serious matter.

[The Sushi Bandit]

3. 1 or 2 might be nice but 100's will make you close your windows

and turn on your window air conditioner (white noise)!