Twolined Spittlebug Tool

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, this tool facilitates the identification, reporting, and management of the Twolined Spittlebug. The system integrates four core modules: an informational portal, a species identification guide, a citizen science reporting function, and a land management planner. The reporting feature captures georeferenced photographic evidence for a central pest tracking database. The management module enables landowners to systematically document outbreak size and damage severity to inform Integrated Pest Management (IPM) priorities.

Evidence & Research Context

• The app addresses the ecological and economic threat of Prosapia bicincta, an invasive pest confirmed in Hawaiʻi in 2016 that severely impacts the state's pasture-based livestock industry.
• Associated research documents the pest's rapid expansion across more than 72,000 hectares on Hawaiʻi Island, causing up to 100% dieback of critical forage grasses in highly infested areas.
• The tool directly supports the surveillance and IPM objectives of a multi-agency task force created to monitor pest population dynamics and mitigate further spread.
• Field data indicates that high pest densities (exceeding 50 nymphs/m²) correlate with the displacement of valuable pasture grasses by invasive weeds, justifying the need for systematic tracking.

Intended Use & Scope

This tool is designed for ranchers, landowners, researchers, and citizen scientists in Hawaiʻi. Its primary utility is for pest identification, surveillance through crowdsourced data collection, and preliminary documentation of outbreaks. The system is intended to inform IPM planning and does not provide prescriptive treatment recommendations or replace consultation with agricultural extension specialists.