Management Information
Preventative measures: A Risk Assessment of Melastoma candidum for Hawaii and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 13 and a recommendation of: "Reject the plant for import (Australia) or species likely to be of high risk (Pacific)."Chemical: Asian melastome is "sensitive to hormone type herbicides 2,4-D, dicamba and triclopyr at 1 lb/acre, and to metsulfuron at 0.45 oz/acre. It is sensitive to basal bark and stump bark applications of 2,4-D and triclopyr at 4% in diesel." (Motooka et al., 2002).
Cut at the base of the plant and treat with a herbicide. Cut material should be disposed off properly.
Ester formulations of triclopyr may be mixed in oil at 20% concentration or more and applied as in horizontal or vertical streaks on the basal bark to kill stumps (Motooka et al., 2002). These methods will cause less effects on native species that coexist with the target (Starr et al. 2003).
Soluble herbicide triclopyr can be drizzled over weeds at the appropriate concentration. However it is uncertain whether foliar spray applications would work, and this would have the most non-target effects and may be unsitely in a garden situation (Starr et al. 2003). Biological: Several moth species (Lepidoptera) have been introduced as biological control agents for M. candidum in Hawaii (Teramoto and Heu 2000 in Starr et al. 2003). Physical: Small, cultivated specimens can be pulled up by hand (Starr et al. 2003). Preventative measures: All species in the genus Melastoma are listed as Hawaii state noxious weeds, making it illegal to possess, sell, and propagate them in Hawaii. The public could be discouraged from using any plants in the family Melastomataceae. The public could also be discouraged from planting hapu'u ferns (Cibotium spp.) or use hapu'u mulch that is harvested from the wild forests of Hawaii as they often harbor noxious weed species such as Melastoma spp. (Starr et al. 2003).
Location Specific Management InformationBig Island (United States (USA))
In order to control M. candidum, a moth in the Arctiidae family, Selca brunella Hampson, native to Malaysia, was released in 1964 and is now established on the island of Hawaii (Teramoto and Heu 2000 in Starr et al. 2003). Kaua`i Is. (United States (USA))
In order to control M. candidum, two moths in the family Pyralidae have been released. Bocchoris adipalis Zell., native to Malaysia, was released in 1964. Another, Bocchoris fatualis (Lederer), native to the Philippines, was released in 1958 and is now established on Kauai (Teramoto and Heu 2000 in Starr et al. 2003). Kula (United States (USA))
M. candidum is currently a target species for eradication by the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC). Education on the general public are needed (Starr et al. 2003). Makawao (United States (USA))
M. candidum is currently a target species for eradication by the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC). Education on the general public are needed (Starr et al. 2003).
Management Resources/Links
2. Motooka, P., L. Castro, D. Nelson, G. Nagai and L. Ching . 2002. Weeds of pastures and natural areas of Hawaii and their management. In press. Results Page: 1
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