This information from the USDA Forest Service is being withheld from the public!!!

• The infestation of our forests with this alien scale insect is purely experimental. The agency doing this, the Pacific Southwest Research Station, has a research grant to introduce this scale and see what happens over the decades. They are NOT part of the Forest Service's Forest Health Protection program. They are insect researchers using the Big Island as their laboratory. Alternative ways to manage the waiawi are ignored, since their grant is only to infest and monitor.

  
  

• Strawberry guava is related to the o'hia, eucalyptus, mountain apple, jabotacaba, suriname cherry, rose apple, guava, and many other myrtle trees. The scale can adapt and evolve within a few years to attack these related species. “Evolution of ability to use host plants in new, unpredictable ways occur over times as long as several decades.” -- Tracy Johnson, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, lead insect researcher proposing infestation¹

  
  

• The strawberry guava may not be as bad as they claim. “There is no direct evidence of strawberry guava causing the extinction of any species. The actual costs associated with strawberry guava infestations in Hawaii are not well quantified. The impact on ecosystem functions of strawberry guava displacing native trees has not been studied.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• Strawberry guava is GOOD for the watershed. “There is undoubtedly significant positive value in the protection strawberry guava currently affords to watershed areas. If it were removed suddenly and extensively from steep, wet areas without being replaced by other species, catastrophic erosion could ensue. They are now the primary soil-holding species.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• You can effectively hand clear. “Dramatic reductions in density of strawberry guava and other weeds have been achieved within Hawaii Volcano National Park, and the labor to maintain low weed density declines manifold after the initial large investment.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• The infestation will make our island ugly and destroy the strawberry guava. “Infestation by T. ovatus may be perceived as damaging to strawberry guava's aesthetic value. High levels of infestation cause leaf drop to the point of complete defoliation.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• These scale insects can damage plants besides strawberry guava as they look for food.“Crawlers may probe a potential host plant and move on before choosing to settle and feed...Impacts on nontarget species will be monitored primarily in native forest plots.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• Birds and other wildlife will suffer. “A variety of species utilize strawberry guava fruit seasonally, and all of these can be expected to be impacted negatively to varying degrees.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• Other invasive plants will replace strawberry guava and increase FIRE RISK. “Strawberry guava may tend to be replaced by other invasive species over time. Palm grass and other invasive grasses that flourish in high-light forest gaps may increase within stands of strawberry guava that may be partially defoliated...could lead to increased risk of wildfires.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• Trillions of insect eggs and nymphs will blow in the wind, become a nuisance. “Humans near infested strawberry guava may experience chance contact with the eggs, crawlers and waxy filaments which emerge from female galls. Allergy risk.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• Once released, there is no turning back. And there is no effective way to control these scales if they get out of hand and start attacking o'hia or other desired trees. “Release of this insect into the environment in Hawaii is expected to be irreversible and permanent.” -- T. Johnson

  
  

• They really don't know what will happen. “There is uncertainty associated with the eventual impact of T. ovatus on strawberry guava. Actual impacts will not be known until after release occurs and post-release monitoring has been conducted.” -- T. Johnson