![]() The adult weevil grows to only 0.5 inches, which is smaller than the 1.5 inch long coconut rhinoceros beetle. The New Guinea sugarcane weevil is a pest of sugarcane, palms, and occasionally papayas that is present throughout Hawaii. New Guinea sugarcane weevil ( Rhabdoscelus obscurus): Images: Michael Thomas, University of Hawaii Museum This method for differentiating the two species is somewhat subjective, so a specimen should be submitted to guarantee that it is not the coconut rhinoceros beetle. When laid out on a flat surface, the oriental flower beetle larva will crawl on its back, while the coconut rhinoceros beetle larva will crawl on its side. The two species do act differently when they move about. Though the adults look different, the larvae are so similar that an entomologist is required to definitively tell them apart. They feed on flower pollen and nectar, sap, and damaged fruit from a variety of plants and have been established on Oʻahu since 2002. The oriental flower beetle is a type of Asian scarab beetle that is a non-native pest that looks very much like the coconut rhinoceros beetle during the larval stages. Oriental flower beetle ( Protaetia orientalis): More information about this pest: Hawaii Invasive Species Council Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response UpdatesĪdult oriental flower beetle ( Protaetia orientalis) If you see this beetle anywhere in Hawaii- call 643-PEST or report it online! It was found in Hawaii in 2013 at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during a routine survey by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the University of Hawaii-Hilo. Interisland transport of goods and people may account for long distance movement of this pest. It is spread in infested yard waste and compost, as well as in rotting breadfruit/banana used for earth ovens in Samoa. First found on Guam in the Tumon Bay area in September of 2007, by early 2012, this pest had spread to all urban/suburban areas, including military housing areas (Anderson AFB housing). In Palau, where the beetle first invaded in 1942, the coconut palm was eradicated entirely on some islands, with overall mortality across the archipelago reaching 50%.ĭispersal Mechanism: The rhinoceros beetle is native to Africa, China, Myanmar/India, and Southeast Asia and has been introduced to several Pacific Islands including Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Fiji, and Guam. On Pacific Islands with no natural enemies of this beetle, the damage can be extreme. Adults damage living palms, either killing the tree due to direct damage, or opening up the tree to fatal damage from other insects or pathogens. It can be also found in betelnut ( Areca catchu), Pandanus species, banana, pineapple, and sugarcane. ![]() Impacts: The rhinoceros beetle is considered a major pest of coconut palms ( Cocos nucifera) and African oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis). Once a coconut palm dies, eggs are laid and the larva/grub can be found. These holes are very noticeable once the frond emerges, with 'V'-shaped cuts and holes in the midrib. ![]() Adults fly at night and chew into the emerging fronds of coconut palms to feed on sap, creating holes in the top part of the palm, and killing the tree if it eats into the meristem (living/growing part of the tree). This pest can also be identified by the damage it inflicts on coconut palms. The larval grub is sluggish, white, and 'C' shaped (2.4-4" long or more). Identification: The adult is a stout (1.2-2.4" long) brownish black beetle with a characteristic horn projecting from the head. The coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae are 2.4-4" long and C-shaped. The characteristic rear-facing horn is larger in male beetles. Hawaii Early Detection Network Priority Pest All Islands in Hawaii
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