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
*Bi-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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April 12 - April 25, 2014 Update
The CRB project staff has decided to provide updates every 2-weeks rather than weekly. If CRB project fans would like more information on project activities, feel free to contact Rebecca Smith or Rob Hauff at 832-0535.
- The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Project is now hiring crews. Applications are being accepted by USDA through May 5, 2014 (see announcement). For inquiries please call 834-3200.
- The Navy continued in-vessel composting operations for this reporting period. HDOA/USDA continued monitoring temperatures in the composting system as well as inspecting treated material. No signs of live CRB were found in the treated material. Temperature probes and data loggers verified data showing 160-170 degrees (+/-20 degrees) were maintained throughout the material.
- The project’s technical experts conferenced with the CRB’s incident commanders and the Navy’s expert for in-vessel composting. Standard Operating Procedures for in-vessel composting should be finalized momentarily. The technical experts are also looking into the effects of ammonia, which is generated via the composting process, on CRB.
- During the 2-week reporting period (April 12-25), surveyors found 26 adult beetles, and visually surveyed 15 square miles for coconut tree damage and breeding sites. All but 2 beetles were trapped on JBPHH: one beetle was found in a trap at Iroquois Point, slightly increasing the 2-mile buffer area; the other beetle was trapped at the Ke’ehi Lagoon Park and did not change the buffer. Traps were checked and serviced for maintenance/repair (182 serviced) and 8 mulch piles were surveyed. One new breeding site was found just north of Malama Bay Golf Course (a mulch pile containing dead CRB larvae). Known breeding sites are still limited to JBPHH.
- An interagency ground survey/sweep of Navy Marine golf course was completed on April 14th. Individuals from HDOA, USDA, DLNR, DOFAW, Navy Environmental, JBPPH Pest Management, USFWS and additional Navy/USAF volunteers successfully scoured the entire golf course that morning and identified potential breeding sites to be further inspected. Afternoon inspections of these sites resulted in zero positive breeding sites being identified. One large mulch pile was identified as a high risk site, and options are being weighed for disposal of this material.
- A similar ground survey of the Barber’s Point Golf Course will be conducted on April 28 while the golf course is shut down for turf aeration operations.
- Beetle Fact: The coconut rhinoceros beetle life cycle ranges from 3 – 9 months. The adults mate in moist decomposing organic matter. The female lays 3-4 clutches of approximately 40 eggs each. Males arrive after the female lays her eggs and begin chewing material for the hungry keiki to eat.
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