Speaking of frogs...

[Guest]

How long does a particular species have to reside in Hawaii before it is considered native?

In geologic time Homo Sapiens and Eleutherodactylus coqui landed in Hawaii at the same time.

Actually all terrestrial species just now showed up.

[MarkP]

Compared to the historical rate of introduction of new species, Hawaii is experiencing a landslide of introductions in modern times. That is the big difference. We also tend to judge things by our own lifetime. I can't think of a good example but imagine a native organism, perhaps the Nene goose. When it first showed up it may have had a profound effect on the other flora and fauna, causing a real upset lasting hundreds of years, but we weren't around to see it. Pure speculation of course but it may be that ANY new organism is a real PITA until it and the rest of the ecosystem mesh together. Of course, hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions are all natural too and I don't want to experience them in my lifetime.

Interesting side note: In my reading about coqui frogs I read about a study done in Lava Tree State Park. Rats and mongooses were trapped and their stomach contents were analyzed. They had eaten hardly any coquis, like none for the rats and only 1 coqui in a mongoose. The concern is that large numbers of coquis will support large numbers of bird predators, indirectly increasing predation on birds. This study did not support that hypothesis. Also read that analysis of coqui contents showed they did not eat a lot of mosquitos, but did eat a lot of bugs found in leaf litter, from where they hide during the day. Supposedly they "parachute" down from trees in early morning, just jumping off and landing with a plop, then crawl back up in the evening. Seems like such regular behavior could somehow be exploited. The effectiveness of those T-shaped traps made of PVC pipe is increased 5-fold when medfly attractant is placed nearby, so seems they like fruit flys.

[missydog1]

Having observed a lot of coqui behavior -- the whole tree-climbing behavior is over-rated. I must have lazy coqui. They are not compelled to climb up far at all. They'll chirp in a pot, under a pot, under the house, on the siding, on a small hapu'u or other plant ... they aren't fussy.

If they happen to be under a big tree, they may climb up it during the night.
Makes sense ... why make the females work harder by climbing super high?
Nor do they all come down to the ground during the day.

I must have anarchist lazy non study-reading coqui frogs.

[Royall]

Has any study showed whether or not the cane toads eat coqui frogs?

Royall

What goes around comes around!

[missydog1]

If they did, I wouldn't have coqui!

Both are nocturnal, but the bufo like to range all over the ground and the lawn (when they aren't humping in the pond) -- and coqui do hide and chirp. I've never seen one of the cane toads in pursuit of a chirping coqui. Too bad.

My cats capture coqui but don't eat them.
Maybe coqui are not yummy to any species.

[Guest]

It's so weird I didn't actually bump this topic today...

Just today... I found 3 sets of Eggs.... didn't really know what they were....

Turned out they were damn cocqui eggs.... they got the bleach treatment![]

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Rally For the Plan

[rbakker]

My experience as well, KathyH.

Some go up and stay up, others stay on the ground. Some go up more than 20 feet, most stay at around 6 feet or below. I've seen them on every type of plant (except banyan and lantana but any day now...) even fern leaves - which can barely support their weight.

Around here they're very keen on tree trunks, maybe because of the extra echo. Makes them easier to find.

Next time you find eggs, have a very close look you may just see the little froglets inside.

[Hawaiibound]

As for the question about the coqui noise... The first night I arrived, I thought they were very loud but only because I wasn't used to it. WIthin a week, I was adjusted to them to my surprise and my son has commented multiple times how he enjoys falling to sleep by their noise.

[Liz]

On our recent trip back to Idaho, we really missed the coquis at night! Haha! Really surprised us that we did, but it was sooo quiet out in the country where we used to live. Then we got used to that again and the coquis took a little getting used to again once we returned home. I usually find their chirping noises soothing. Of course, they aren't right outside my window. That would sure be a different story.

Damon~ How can you tell coqui eggs? What do they look like?

aloha, Liz

"The best things in life aren't things."

[Royall]

I've seen what was said to be coqui eggs. When I lifted a board off the ground I thought I was looking at a quarter size coin, but looking closer it was a long string of eggs laid in a circle. It is amazing what 50/50 mixture of bleach and water will do to the eggs and a coqui frog!

Royall

What goes around comes around!