Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), an invasive pest, was detected Dec. 23, 2013 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam on coconut trees. A joint effort between USDA, UH at Manoa, U.S. Navy, HDOA and other partners has mobilized and an Incident Command System (ICS) has been established to respond to this pest emergency.
Please find below the latest update or click here to view/download as PDF. Contact Rob Hauff, CRB Response Liaison Officer, with any questions related to this update.
Rob Hauff: Robert.D.Hauff@hawaii.gov, 808.295.5853
*Weekly CRB updates will be sent to the full HISC Listserv, to opt-out of the updates, please respond to this email indicating you do not wish to receive them.
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March 29 - April 4, 2014 Update
- The Navy continued in-vessel composting operations this week. The infested compost pile at Par 3 Golf course was re-treated. Temperatures of 165 degrees Fahrenheit were reached and sustained. Thermal sampling and data to show and verify that the temperatures throughout the batch are sustained at the desired temperatures will be collected this next week. Also, caged samples of CRB will be provided to verify that all CRB are in fact being killed.
- Surveyors found 3 beetles in traps on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam near Mamala Bay Golf Course this week and visually surveyed 1749 coconut trees for damage and breeding sites. New traps were placed and serviced (175 placed/214 serviced) this week and two mulch piles were surveyed. No additional breeding sites were found this week.
- Coordination for an interagency ground survey/sweep of Mamala Bay golf course was finalized this week. Individuals from HDOA, USDA, DLNR, DOFAW, Navy Environmental, JBPPH Pest Management, USFWS and additional Navy volunteers will conduct a ground sweep of Mamala Bay Golf Course on Monday April 7th to ensure all potential breeding sites (mulch, rotten stumps, and decomposing vegetation) for the CRB have been identified. Additionally, any high-risk sites identified by this ground survey/sweep will be further investigated for signs of egg, larval and beetle presence.
- Beetle Fact of the Week: In its native range, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) is controlled by various factors, but when introduced to new areas without natural controls (like predators or diseases) it becomes a threat to coconuts and other palms (Gressitt, 1953). CRB is considered one of the most damaging insects to coconut and African oil palm in southern and South East Asia as well as the western Pacific Islands (Giblin-Davis, 2001).
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