Group wants Big Isle
bug put on endangered listIt is concerned that new Mauna
Kea telescopes will displace the wekiu
An environmental group is petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to put Mauna Kea's wekiu bug on its endangered species list.
"It's past time to provide protection for this bug," Cha Smith, executive director of Kahea, the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, said Thursday. "The threat of the telescope industry, its current practices and future expansion, poses a significant impact or possible impact to the survival of the wekiu."
The wekiu bug is unique to Mauna Kea's summit, where it was discovered on Puu Wekiu in 1979.
Populations of the bug are believed to have decreased since then, although no one has an accurate count of how many bugs there are, said Neal Evenhuis, Bishop Museum chairman of natural sciences.
"I think more study needs to be done before we really realize what the situation is with it," said Evenhuis. "I don't want to list it if it's not necessary to do so."
Kahea is concerned that with additional telescopes planned for the mountain that the habitat of the bug will be reduced, Smith said.
The wekiu bug has been a candidate for endangered species status since October 1999, said Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Barbara Maxfield. It shares the waiting list with 106 other species.
Kahea "is urging us to go ahead and list it," Maxfield said.
After Fish and Wildlife receives Kahea's petition, it will have 90 days to decide if listing is warranted and, if it concludes it is warranted, a year to conduct a status review, Maxfield said.
Fish and Wildlife Service