Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Eradication Efforts at JBHHH
Cory CamporaNAVFAC Hawaii
Environmental DepartmentNatural Resources Program
• Have 4 life stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. • The eggs are laid and develop within rotting coconut logs or trimmings,
mulch, or compost (females lay from 70 to 140 eggs total)• Adults emerge in about four months and live for about another 3
months• Adults are active and night and fly, usually staying near breeding site• Larvae are white, C-shaped grubs which grow to about 3.5 inches in
length, much larger than any beetle in Hawaiʻi.
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Aubrey Moore /UOG Photos
Distribution• Africa: Mauritius, Mayotte, and Reunion
• Asia: (Native to Southern and SE Asia) Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Chagos Archipelago, China, Cocos Islands, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam
• Middle East: Iran, Oman, Pakistan, and Yemen
• Oceania: American Samoa, British Indian Ocean Territory, Fiji, Guam*, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna
*Discovered in Guam in 2007
• Adult CRB burrows into crowns of coconut palms, betelnut, Manila, and other palms to feed on sap.
• They do not stay in trees; they spend a few days, then leave
• Feeding burrows in the base of fronds, or top of the trunk; may kill tree
Aubrey Moore /UOG Photos
JBPHH Infestation
• On 12/23/13, one suspect coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was caught in a trap that was part of a Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program between USDA APHIS PPQ and the University of Hawaii.
Response• 1/9/14 CRB Incident Command Team established
(HDOA and USDA – CRB is federally actionable pest)
• 1/10/14 Incident Command Team met with JBPHH personnel
• HDOA lead on response with JBPHH and Navy Region Hawaii providing /access/support/assistance etc.
Response Efforts
• Survey for and elimination of breeding sites• Delimiting surveys (traps and tree surveys)• Quarantine green waste to limit movement• Outreach
Eliminating Breeding SitesOptions:
As method was being determined, decision was made (approx 1/14/14) to grind all active breeding material in tub grinder (2x) to kill later life stages.
2/24/14 - Primary breeding site was considered mitigated• ground 2x• placed on sheeting• covered with netting• awaiting incineration or other disinfecting action
Eliminating Breeding Sites
• Composting selected as the way ahead • Requires some testing• All breeding material will be consolidated at one
location within quarantine zone, chipped, and then heated via composting to kill all stages of CRB
• Material will then be transported for use as soil amendment
• Additional intensive breeding site surveys required
Delimiting Surveys (Trapping & Visual)• Utilizing effective trap designs developed by the University of Guam• Barrel Traps, Bucket Traps, Panel Traps, and
Delimiting Surveys
• Tree Surveys– Inspect for notched/damaged fronds– Inspect for bore holes or feeding burrows
State Pest Hotline
All sightings of coconut rhinoceros beetles or sign of beetle damage (hole in the base of palm frond or crown of coconut tree; or v-shaped cuts in fronds) should be reported to 643-PEST (643-7378)
Outreach
Outreach
• CNRH ARE staff and JBPHH POA conducting outreach to on-base and nearby elementary schools
– Live beetle demonstrations– Adopt a trap program– Information materials
Successes
• Support from Navy leadership• Support from USDA and State of Hawaii DOA• Implementation of University of Guam
expertise• Coordination between agencies• Innovative solutions
Challenges
• Expectations between agencies• Conflicting issues:– Little Fire Ant– Red Hill fuel leak– Dead pygmy sperm in Pearl Harbor– Job conflicts
• Response/mitigation capability• Navy Funding: FX or EV?