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

CRB Life Stages

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

• Bore holes or feeding burrows are visible in developed fronds

• A side-hit may weaken frond and cause it to break and hang down

• Feeding also may result in notches in developed fronds

Photo by Karl Magnacca

• Feeding burrows in the base of fronds, or top of the trunk; may kill tree

Aubrey Moore /UOG Photos

• Adult beetles leave behind “chew” (chewed fibre)

http://tnau.ac.in/eagri/eagri50/ENTO331/lecture07/001.html

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.

Primary breeding site

1st detection

2,000 cubic yards

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 Sites

Active breeding sites were #1 priority

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

Seabees assisting with barrel trap construction

Delimiting Surveys

• Tree Surveys– Inspect for notched/damaged fronds– Inspect for bore holes or feeding burrows

Thru 3/10/14

Traps thru 3/10

Thru 3/10/14

thru 3/10

Green Waste Quarantine

Outreach

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?

Future Considerations• Biosecurity SOPs/protocols/Instructions• Monitoring near ports of entry• Partnerships/Cooperation with USDA• Management of green space near the airfield

Photo by: Dr. Allen Allison, Bishop Museum