Detected in Hawaii in 2013 , the coconut rhinoceros beetle ( Oryctes rhinoceros ) is an encroaching pest native to area of Southeast Asia . In fact , it ’s one of the most destructive pests to various types of palm tree growing throughout the Pacific Islands and Asia . As of this authorship , the mallet has only invaded the Hawaiian Islands and has n’t made it across the sea to the mainland U.S. Early detection and management is the best course of control to keep your coconut palm tree ( Cocos nucifera ) good for you .
Plant Types at Risk
Although the coconut rhinoceros beetle ’s main plant of selection is the tropicalcoconut palm , other flora are also at peril of an fire :
Beetle Description
An adult coconut rhinoceros beetle is relatively large , ranging just over an inch to 2.5 inches long ( 3.0 to 6.3 cm ) and are ignominious to dark brown . The underside of both Male and distaff beetles , have blurred cherry - brown hair and a horn used to move through tightly pack leaves . The males ’ horn is usually longsighted than the females .
Beetle’s Life-Cycle
The coconut rhinoceros beetle lays its eggs in crumble affair like logs , stump , foliage debris or other decaying botany . The egg hatch in just over a workweek and the larvae continues feed and growing . It admit anywhere from three to six months before they enter the pupae point , which lasts for two to three week .
pornographic beetles issue from their pupae electric cell , take flight to the pate of apalmtree and begin feeding . The beetle are only active during the nighttime hour and continue obscure in their feeding arena during the Clarence Day . An grownup coconut rhinoceros beetle live anywhere from four to nine month and during a female beetle ’s life-time she can lay 50 to 100 testicle .
Signs of Damage
Coconut rhinoceros beetle bore into the center of the peak of palm tree Tree , where they damage the new develop growing , feed on the sap . mansion of beetle damage include :
Management & Control
Since the coconut rhinoceros beetle has n’t made it across to the U.S. mainland , verify you adjudge all agricultural particular you bring into the states from external travel . You do n’t require the beetle thumb in your items . There are trap available that contain pheromone of the virile beetle that tempt the mallet into them . Other management option for keeping the beetle under restraint include :
Natural Predators
The egg and pupae of the beetle have instinctive enemies such as other beetles , rats , hog and ants . Predators dig through the region of disintegrate matter where the pupae and eggs are and eat up them .
