Adult coconut rhinoceros beetles found in Kona

A pair of adult coconut rhinoceros beetles were found Monday and Tuesday in Kailua-Kona.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee announced Tuesday that the first invasive insect was found Monday in a live trap at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. A BIISC team found the beetle during a regularly scheduled check of traps at the airport and turned it over to the state Department of Agriculture.

The second adult beetle was found Tuesday in a trap at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, also at the airport.

Larvae of the invasive beetle were first detected on the Big Island in October 2023. Since then, four other adult beetles have been captured on the island — all of them in Waikoloa — but no other larvae have since been detected. The two beetles found this week bring the total number of adults detected to six.

Because of the beetles’ devastating impact to palm populations, residents are urged to carefully check any purchases of mulch or soil — where the beetles lay eggs — particularly local brands packaged on Oahu, where the beetles are rampant.

Any beetles or larvae found should be reported immediately to BIISC, the state DOA or 643pest.org, an invasive species hotline.