Introduced to Hawaii from Brazil in 1825, strawberry guava is an invasive species that many enjoy. People eat the fruit fresh or in jam, or use the wood for smoking meat. However, strawberry guava's potential damage may outweigh its utility. Strawberry guava has no natural enemies or competitors in Hawaii. It forms dense thickets replacing native Hawaiian plants, and damages the
watershed services that diverse forests provide. Its spread over thousands of acres is beyond the possibility of control by existing methods. These are just some of the reasons why there is a
public conversation about the proposed introduction to Hawaii of a scale insect that is the natural population control of strawberry guava in Brazil. Learn more about
strawberry guava and biocontrol and the
facts and fiction about strawberry guava control (pdfs). Further information is provided by the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry:
Biological Control of Strawberry Guava in Hawaii
Native Hawaiian forests vs. strawberry guava. (video)