The tiny coqui frog, now taking up residence in Kailua, is not just a noisy nuisance.

In its 2007 report to the Legislature, the state Department of Agriculture leaves no doubt about the necessity of controlling this pest.

• A hardy creature with no natural predators here, the coqui frog reproduces far more rapidly in Hawai'i than its native Puerto Rico — by one estimate on the Big Island, about five times as much per 20-by 20-meter lot.

• They have voracious appetites, threatening Hawai'i's unique insects and spiders and competing with native fauna, including endemic birds, for food.

• They are easily transported via flowers and nursery products, putting Big Island agricultural exporters under the threat of quarantine or onerous treatment protocols.

• The coqui's shriek, as loud as a lawn mower (and occurring at night when people are trying to sleep), can, and has, affected real estate sales where infestations occur.

It seems unlikely the coqui will be eradicated in Hawai'i, but its spread can and should be aggressively combatted.

To report a possible infestation, call 643-7378. To learn more, visit http://hawaii.gov/hdoa.

The job will take money, of course. It will take strict controls of interisland shipments of agricultural products.

But perhaps most of all, public education — identifying the frog and learning basic techniques for eradicating it — is essential to prevent the problem from getting worse.