Kauai residents urged to look for coconut rhinoceros beetles
LIHUE, Kauai — The discovery of two coconut rhinoceros beetles over the last week on Kauai — a first for the island — has prompted the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to ask residents to look for the highly destructive beetles in their compost bins and green waste.
The coconut rhinoceros beetle bores into the crowns of palm trees, often killing them. In other parts of the Pacific, such as the Republic of Palau, the invasive beetles have eradicated coconut trees on some islands. First discovered on Oahu in 2013, the beetles are now widespread on the island. However, they have not been found on the other Hawaiian Islands — until now.
