Oryctes rhinoceros

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This page is intended as a depository for information on an infestation of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros, at Tumon Bay, Guam. CRB is a serius pest of palms. An eradication plan has been prepared with the goal of eliminating the threat of massive economic and environmental damage by this newly arrived invasive species.

An environmental impact assessment for the Guam rhinoceros eradication project is available here.

Images

Adults

Adult Feeding Damage

Immatures

Delimiting Survey

Traps

Videos

Guam CRB Eradication Project

Philippine Coconut Authority

Chronology

September 2007

  • September 11, 2007 An adult female beetle was collected by Aldrin Manapat and James Thomas Hollingsworth and given to Brent Tibbatts, Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources (DAWR), Guam Department of Agriculture. Identified as Oryctes rhinoceros by A. Moore, University of Guam (UOG).
  • September 13, 2007 Brent Tibbatts & Renee Franquez from DAWR, and Aubrey Moore & Bob Bourgeois from UOG visited the collection site. No adult beetles were found, but feeding damage was seen on a nearby coconut growing on a vacant lot (13.50879N 144.80061E); 28 grubs were removed from a 2 m coconut stump beneath the damaged palm; a second coconut with feeding damage was found nearby (13.50774N 144.79942E).
  • September 14 - 18, 2007 Delimiting survey; infestation extends from the Hilton north along the beach until Fujita Rd.; feeding damage observed on many trees at the Fiesta Hotel; See Google Earth image of Tumon Bay above; If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, click here to view the data interactively.
  • September 19, 2007 Grubs were detected at Gun Beach by Ben Quichocho and Patrick Artero of the Guam Plant Inspection Station (13.52416N 144.80399E and 13.52428N 144.80405E).
  • September 20, 2007 CRB infestation was discussed at a meeting of the Guam Invasive Species Advisory Committee and Guam Department of Agriculture officials.
  • September 20, 2007 Press release informing public of infestation
  • September 22, 2007 Feeding damage detected at Faifai Beach
  • September 25, 2007 Adult beetle extracted from feeding burrow on coconut palm on Tumon Beach by Ben Quichocho
  • September 28, 2007 A landscaper phoned to report that he had found what appear to be CRB feeding burrows in three palm trees he had just transplanted. Fortunately, the source and destinate of these plants was within the known infested area of Tumon Bay. This report is evidence that CRB can be accidentally dispersed by landscapers and the plant nursery industry.
  • September 28, 2007 Press Release advising people not to move palms and rotting plant material from Tumon to prevent accidental spread of CRB.

October 2007

  • October 3, 2007 Presentation on CRB eradication project for Guam Visitor's Bureau Destination, Development & Maintenance Committee.
  • October 5, 2007 Guam Invasive beetle Council (GISC) met to discuss Guam CRB eradication project. PPT
  • October 5, 2007 Quarantine order enacted to prevent spread of CRB from Tumon
  • October 5, 2007 Senator Espaldon hosts meeting to discuss CRB eradication plan and composting of materials collected during sanitation to remove breeding sites
  • October 3 - 5, 2007 Fifty pheromone traps, donated by Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) were deployed to monitor extent of CRB infestation
  • October 7, 2007 Konrad Englberger, Invasive Species Coordinator for Micronesia, SPC, visited Guam to assess the CRB situation. Two male adults were found in bucket trap with vanes. Nine adult males and one adult female were dug out of decaying coconut logs nearby. Many grubs were extracted from decaying logs.
  • October 25, 2007 - Roland Quitugua's University of Guam Ag. 100 class assists with RCB field research at Trankilidot, Tumon, Guam PowerPoint Presentation
  • October 25, 2007 - Governor of Guam, Felix Camacho, signs emergency declaration concerning the CRB infestation. PDF

November 2007

  • November 15, 2007 - Public meeting for volunteers.
  • November 17, 2007 - Approximately 40 volunteers help remove breeding sites from vacant properties in Tumon.

March 2008

  • March 24, 2008 - Aubrey Moore gave a talk on the Guam Rhino Beetle eradication project as a guest speaker at a Rotary Club
  • March 24, 2008 - Aubrey Moore gave a talk on the Guam Rhino Beetle eradication project as a guest speaker at a Guam Golf Course Superintendents meeting.
  • March 25, 2008 - Dallas Berringer & Aubrey Moore met with Landscape Management Systems and the Guam Visitors Bureau to discuss trunk injections and coordination.

August 2008

References

Technical Reports

  • Assessment of the rhinoceros beetle infestation on Guam, by Aubrey Moore, Updated 31 Oct 2007.DOC
  • Early Detection Pest Risk Assessment: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle by Sheri L. Smith & A. Moore, March 2008.PDF
  • Efficacy of Systemic Insecticide Injections Applied to Mature Coconut Palms, by Aubrey Moore, Updated 5 April 2008.PDFODT
  • CAPS Semiannual Report: Guam CRB Pheromone Trap Network, by Aubrey Moore, Updated June 5, 2008.PDF
  • Survey of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Damage at the Pacific Islands Club Resort, Tumon Bay, Guam. Updated July 23, 2008. PDF
  • Preliminary Bioassay of DUTREX® using Adult Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles, by Aubrey Moore, September 14, 2008. PDF

Reference Articles

Press Releases & Articles

Fact Sheets

Miscellaneous