Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Friederichs (1935) reported that E.H. Bryan, Jr. found several embiids on the Phoenix Islands
that were closely related to Oligotoma insularis. Friederichs (1935) noted that O. insularis
appeared identical to O. latreillei.
Bryan (1939) reported that insects were few in number of species, but abundant in individuals
on the Phoenix Islands. They included roaches, silverfish, leafhoppers, plant bug small
bettles, small moths, ants, and flies. No mosquitoes were noted, but ground spiders were
abundant. The specific islands that these occurred on were not provided.
Extensive searches for the tick, Ixodes amersoni, were completed on other Phoenix Islands
(besides Enderbury and Rawaki), but the tick was not found (Amerson 1968). Amerson
(1968) noted that the tick may occur in such small numbers that it has been overlooked.
Anderson (2002) noted that no pre-historic faunal extinctions have been recorded yet for the
Phoenix Islands.
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
Bryan (1934) reported that there were no butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers or mosquitoes.
Maude (1937) reported no mosquitos on Abariringa (Canton).
From 1936 to December 7, 1941, an entomologist employed by the Hawaiian Sugar Planter’s
Association was stationed at Abariringa (Canton) to inspect, spray, and intercept all insects
going to Hawaii on planes (Permberton 1953; see also Van Zwaluwenburg 1941). According
to Van Zwaluwenburg (1943), the plant quarantine station was started in April 1940 (Van
Zwaluwenburg 1943; see also Anon. 1940a; Anon. 1940d, Bryan 1941, 1942, and 1974).
All flights from Abariringa (Canton) to Hawaii were inspected for live and dead insects.
(Pemberton 1944). Each flight (to or from Hawaii) was sprayed with pyrethrum extract
shortly before landing and prior to departure. Insects collected were sent to the entomologist
at the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Experiment Station for identification. Abariringa (Canton)
became an insect filter for Hawaii (see also Murphy et al 1954). Sea planes to Abariringa
(Canton) originated in New Zealand and New Caledonia (Anon. 1940d).
As part of the 1938 Line Islands Expedition, Donaggho (1952 and 1953) visited Abariringa
(Canton) and observed greenish-black bird flies.
Gardner (1938) reported no flies or mosquitoes on Abariringa (Canton).
Pemberton (1944) provided a summary of mosquito species collected on inbound and
outbound Hawaii flights, but this is not broken down by island of transit. A total of 1,839
live insects were removed from the 301 planes that transited Abariringa (Canton)
(Permberton 1953). During World War II, the insect quarantine was marginalized due to the
war effort.
Browne (1940) collected the following insects on Abariringa (Canton):
1) Harmonia areuata (Coleoptera)
2) Cutilia soror (Orthoptera)
4) Olfersia spinigera (Diptera)
5) Aphis gossypii (Homoptera)
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