Public comments accepted until December 21
The comment period for the proposal to list two species of Hawaiian damselflies as endangered was reopened today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.; The flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly and the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly are unique insects found nowhere else in the world. The notice published in the Federal Register today seeks any information that may be available regarding the status of these two species.
Originally proposed for listing on July 8, 2009, the initial comment period closed on September 8. The public comment period will be reopened for an additional 30 days to allow all interested parties time to consider the information provided in the proposed rule and to submit comments. The Service welcomes all comments regarding the proposed rule but is especially interested in those pertaining to biological, commercial trade or other relevant data concerning any threats to this species; additional information concerning the range, distribution, and population sizes of these two species, including the locations of any additional populations; and current or planned activities in the areas occupied by the species and possible impacts on these species.
Damselflies and dragonflies are known collectively as pinao by Native Hawaiians. Damselflies have slender bodies and hold their wings above the body while at rest, while dragonflies are stout-bodied and hold their wings perpendicular to their body.
The flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly has been a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act since 1996, and the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly has been a candidate since 1994. Federal listing of these two species would automatically invoke state listing under Hawaiis endangered species law.
Historically found on the islands of Hawaii and Maui, the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly has not been seen on the of Hawaii for over 80 years. Currently, the species is known only to occur in one location on Maui.
The primary threats to the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly are habitat loss and degradation due to agriculture and urban development, feral pigs, and nonnative plants; natural catastrophes such as hurricanes and landslides; predation by nonnative species such as insects and bullfrogs; and their small population numbers.
The Pacific Hawaiian damselfly was historically found on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Kahoolawe and Niihau. Found at elevations below 2,000 feet, this species breeds predominantly in standing water such as marshes, ponds and pools along stream channels.; The species has disappeared from at least 18 known localities throughout the islands and is completely gone from the islands of Kauai, Oahu and Lanai. Currently, the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly is found only in 22 locations on the islands of Molokai and Maui, and a single location on the of Hawaii.
The primary threats to the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly are habitat loss and modification by agriculture and urban development, stream alterations, and nonnative plants; natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, drought and landslides; and predation by nonnative species such as fish, insects, and bullfrogs.
The Service has determined that designation of critical habitat for both damselfly species is prudent; however, the agency is unable to identify the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of these species and is therefore unable to determine areas that contain these features.; As a result, the Service is not proposing critical habitat for these species at this time. Under the ESA, the Service has one year after a species is listed to propose critical habitat. Lands that support these two damselfly species are owned by various private parties, the State of Hawaii and the federal government.
The flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly is a comparatively large and elongated species. The males are blue and black in color and exhibit distinctive, greatly enlarged, pincer-like appendages that are used to clasp the female during mating. Females are predominantly brownish in color. The adults measure from 1.8 to 1.9 inches in length and have a wingspan of 1.9 to 2.1 inches. The wings of both sexes are clear except for the tips, which are narrowly darkened along the front margins.
Little is known of the biology of the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly, but it is believed that the species has semi-terrestrial or terrestrial naiads (immature larval stages). The naiads have evolved short, thick, hairy gills and are unable to swim. Adults are often associated with thick mats of uluhe ferns on moist banks.
The Pacific Hawaiian damselfly is a relatively small, darkly-colored species, with adults measuring from 1.3 to 1.4 inches in length and having a wingspan of 1.3 to 1.6 inches. Both sexes are mostly black. Males exhibit brick red striping and patterns while females exhibit light green striping and patterns. This species is most easily distinguished from other Hawaiian damselflies by the extremely long lower abdominal appendage of the male, which greatly exceeds the length of the upper appendage. Females lay eggs in submerged aquatic vegetation or in mats of moss or algae on submerged rocks, and hatching occurs in about ten days.
The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received by December 21, 2009. Previously submitted comments do not need to be resubmitted because they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be considered in the preparation of the final rule. Comments can be sent by one of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. In the box that reads “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter “FWS–R1–ES–2009–0036,” which is the docket number for this rulemaking, and select the box that says “Open for Comment/Submission” before clicking on the Search button. After verifying that you have found the correct document, click on "Submit a Comment" under the column "Actions".
- Via U.S. mail or hand delivery to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2009-0036; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.
Copies of the proposed rule may be downloaded from the Services website at http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/, or from the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov ). For further information contact: Loyal Mehrhoff, Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850; telephone 808/ 792-9400 or fax 808/ 792-9581.
