Steam Clean

There is seemingly no end to the innovations that come about while trying to control the coqui frogs (Eleutherdactylus coqui) that have invaded Hawaii. So far researchers have tried caffeine, citric acid, and hydrated lime. Now The Honolulu Advertiser is reporting that a collaboration between the University of Hawaii and an O'ahu nursery owner has led to the construction of a large chamber that blasts plants with heat and water. The steam cleaning is hot enough to kill most frogs but doesn't seem to harm the plants. The owner of the nursery is hoping the method can be fine-tuned to kill all frogs, allowing "guaranteed coqui-free plants" to be shipped off-island.