This image shows the coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae detected in plants shipped from Oahu to Lanai. Photo courtesy Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity

Since May, officials report there have been two incidents where invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles were detected in plants taken from Oahu to Lanai.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the importer has been taking additional steps to prevent the beetles from being transported to the island.

In both cases, Pūlama Lāna’i, a land management company with a landscape and biosecurity program that services the island, found the insect in recent shipments of potted plants from Oahu.

“The precautionary measures that Pūlama Lāna’i have taken to prevent pests from hitchhiking to Lanai must be recognized and is truly appreciated,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in a news release. “If all plant importers and shippers were as diligent and responsible, the state would be in a much better position regarding invasive pests and diseases. It takes all of us to protect Hawaii.”

The invasive beetle attacks and damages coconut palms by boring into the tops of trees and feeding on the sap. The beetles can significantly reduce coconut production and kill trees.

Besides posing a threat to coconuts, the insect also feeds on economically important crops like papayas, sugar cane and pineapple.

The land management company reported on May 30 that its staff detected a possible beetle larva in a large pot containing a palm plant that arrived from Oahu two days before, which was under a mandatory quarantine. As a precaution, the company immediately quarantined the entire shipment in two 40-foot shipping containers.

Agriculture experts from Oahu and Maui confirmed the larva as a coconut rhinoceros beetle on June 6. Officials chose to destroy the entire shipment by deep burial rather than return the shipment to Oahu.

On June 19, during an inspection, one live larva was found at the bottom of a 45-gallon pot containing a large palm tree. Inspectors believe that new compost material was added to the pots just prior to shipping and that the new compost material may have been the source of the larvae.

According to state officials, no other coconut rhinoceros beetle larva were found in the shipment and the inspectors witnessed the burial of the plants beneath at least seven feet of dirt.

Plants infested with coconut rhinoceros beetles transported from O’ahu were buried on Lanai. Photo courtesy Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity

On July 9, Pūlama Lāna’i was offloading a shipment of assorted plants from O’ahu and detected a species of ant. The shipment was treated with insecticide for the ants the next day.

While offloading the shipment on July 11, staff found an adult male coconut rhinoceros beetle on top of a 45-gallon pot containing a tropical plant.

The plants in that shipment were sealed in a 40-foot shipping container and were destroyed by burning that same day.