Three adult coconut rhinoceros beetles trapped in Waikoloa on Big Island

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Coconut rhinoceros beetles continue to wreak havoc on the Big Island after three live adults were reported to the Department of Agriculture.

According to officials, the three adults were spotted in Waikoloa in traps, the first time an adult has been spotted since the first detection on the island in October 2023.

Traps have been placed throughout the island by multiple agencies and are regularly checked by members of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and the HDOA Plant Pest Control.

One “camera trap” detected a single beetle on April 15 when the University of Hawaii’s Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response team captured a photo of the adult. Reports said the HDOA’s PPC was notified and retrieved the beetle from the trap.

About one week later, two more adults were spotted in traps at the Waioloka Dry Forest Reserve by members of the Waikoloa community.

Staff from the Plant Quarantine Branch from Oahu flew to the Big Island to assist with the CRB detection confirmation and to help with additional surveys.

“Unfortunately, detections of live adult beetles are an indication that CRB are breeding in the Waikoloa area,” Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture said. “We ask that residents pay special attention to mulch and green waste that serve as optimum breeding conditions and report any suspected CRB or suspected CRB damage in palm trees. We need everyone’s eyes.”

Reports said new methods are being developed to protect and treat palm trees. Officials have found that cypermethrin is effective in killing beetles however, the EPA has only authorized its use in Maui, Kauai and Big Island.

Any detection of CRB’s should be reported to the State’s Pest Hotline at (808) 643-7378 or visit CRB Hawaii’s website.