August 2013 Pest of the Month

Damage to coconut palm

  • Host: Coconut and Oil palms mainly – but also may attack other palm species
  • Distribution:  South Pacific (American Samoa, others) and Guam.
  • Damage: V-shaped cuts in the fronds or holes through the midrib
  • Control: Eliminating the places where they breed and manually destroying adults and all stages of life cycle – eggs, larvae, and pupae.  Also through natural enemies such as pigs, rats, ants, and some beetles and diseases (fungus Metahizium anisopliae and Oryctes virus).

Adult

Larva

For full length article click on link  – August 2013 Pest – Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

Source: American Samoa Community College Community & Natural Resources Cooperative Research & Extension. Prepared by Mark Schmaedick.