CLICK HERE TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED CRB BEETLES, PALM DAMAGE, OR LARVAE!

As of October 2023, coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) has been detected in Waikōloa on Hawai’i Island. The beetle is not yet established on our island, and we believe it is possible to eradicate the beetle if we can find and destroy any populations quickly. We need extensive vigilance and assistance from our communities to accomplish this goal! Please take pictures/video of any suspect grubs or palm damage. Contain and hold any beetles or larvae to give to BIISC for confirmation. Use this online form to report suspect CRB. You can contact us via email, Facebook, Instagram, or phone, or bring suspect material to our office in Hilo.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) is a HIGHLY destructive beetle native to Southeast Asia. It feeds on the growing leaves of palm trees, using their large horn and spiny legs to dig into the tree’s crown. After the growing leaves open from the spear it unfurls to show the distinctive V-cuts in the leaves. These V-cuts can sometimes look similar to tree trimmer damage, so it’s important to look for other CRB damage like bore holes on the stems of leaves. This invasive beetle can destroy more than just coconut trees. They also feed on other palm species, like the native loulu, and while they prefer palms they have also been seen going after hala, sugarcane, banana, and taro.

Coconut rhinoceros beetles are black with brown fuzz and are about 1.5-2 inches long. Their most distinct feature is the single long horn. Adult beetles are nocturnal so it is unlikely that you would see them flying around during the day. Their grubs are easier to find and live in compost and decaying plant matter (like coconut stumps). The grubs are off-white with a brownish head capsule. They start off small but can grow up to 3.5 inches long!

Photos (L-R): Scot Nelson, CRB Response Team

Oriental Flower Beetle, another beetle that is established in Hawaiʻi, has a very similar grub. They prefer to eat fruits that are overripe or already damaged. While they are generalist pests that can attack many different plants and are not typically welcome guests in any garden, they do not cause nearly the destruction of other large beetles in Hawai’i, like the Coconut Rhinoceros beetle (CRB). Both the OFB and CRB grubs can be found in compost. The grubs of the two beetles appear nearly identical to the untrained eye. In fact, the easiest way to tell them apart is not by appearance, but by watching how they move. OFB grubs will flip over onto their back and wiggle away upside-down. CRB grubs will curl up into a C-shape and inch away on their side.

If you come across a suspicious beetle or grub and can’t tell if it’s an OFB or a CRB, take clear pictures and send them to us! Be sure to take a few moments to watch how they move before throwing them in the freezer (get a video if you can!). Providing that information can help us identify the grub species for you.