WAIMANALO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Officials in east Oahu are asking residents to keep an eye out for giant iguanas. Experts said there are ways to help mitigate their spread.

Residents added that the lizards are not even the worst invasive species out there.

The large lizards were first introduced to the Islands in the 1970s, most likely as an illegal pet that was released into the wild. A recent video shows a large male basking in the sun in some treetops in Waimanalo and the species is known to reach lengths of over six feet long.

“Waimanalo is one of our major growing regions on Oahu. I think there should be a little bit of concern. We’re seeing more of them lately,” said Christy Martin, program manager of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

“[Call] 643-7378, 643-PEST and depending on where it is and the staff availability, we will respond and and we will attempt to capture it provided that you know we can get access to the property that it’s on,” said Hawaii Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine branch manager Jonathan Ho.

The iguanas are certainly the largest invasive critter out in Waimanalo but local farmers told KHON2 that the “unholy trinity,” of coconut rhinoceros beetles, little fire ants and coqui frogs are the most detrimental.

“These three are, it could be end game if if we see these three get out of control and they’re at the point now where they they might be,” said Taylor Piikea Campbell of Palaka Moon Farms. “If we can not get control of the beetle, you won’t see palm trees anymore. If you think about Hawaii and the iconic images of Hawaii, palm trees and sandy beaches, that could all be gone, the palm trees could be decimated, the ants could populate the beaches to the point where you can’t sit on the sand anymore without getting stung.”

The HDOA added the iguanas have mostly been contained to Waimanalo on Oahu, but the story is not the same with the so-called unholy trinity.

“Those particular organisms, you know, they’re not necessarily, I think, geographically limited,” Ho said.

“I know the iguanas are exciting, and, and everyone wants to see one, but we need to be focusing on the ants, the beetle and the And the frogs,” Campbell said.