#CRB

A second dead coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was found in a detection trap on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2026, approximately 2 miles west of Molokaʻi Airport, by staff from the Molokaʻi/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC). This is the second CRB detection on Molokaʻi. This follows the first Molokaʻi detection of a dead CRB on April 7.

A large dead insect suspected to be a coconut rhinoceros beetle was found in a trap by staff from the Molokaʻi/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC) on Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026, near Kaunakakai Harbor. Based on photographs of the specimen, it is likely a coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) and is being sent to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB) Plant Pest Control Branch on Oʻahu for official species confirmation. If confirmed to be CRB, this will be the first detection of CRB on Molokaʻi.

A single dead adult coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was collected by the Maui Invasive Species Committee from a detection trap at Kahului Airport on the afternoon of April 1, 2026. No other CRB were detected in the other traps checked. Personnel from MISC and DAB are conducting surveys and deploying additional detection traps. Residents, businesses and landowner within a two-mile radius from Kahului Airport are asked to check coconut palms and other large palms for possible signs of CRB feeding damage.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee is launching a Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle music video contest open to Maui students grade three and up; submissions due April 17, 2026.  The goal of the contest is build awareness critical to protecting Maui, where CRB has not yet established.

While coconut palms top the list of CRB’s preferred foods, endangered loulu is also on the menu. Loulu’s small crowns are easier for beetles to penetrate than those of coconut palms, which results in a higher risk of lethal damage or secondary fungal infection. Extinction is a worry.

Residents and business operators in the voluntary compliance area are asked not to transport coconut rhinoceros beetle host materials that include decomposing plant material, plant propagation material, other items comprised of decomposing organic plant material and several genera of live palm plants; order will remain in place through April 30.

Extensive fumigation and removal of suspected breeding areas of the beetle were conducted to stop the spread of the beetle was found in July at Keāhole Agricultural Park.

Surveys conducted last week located two breeding sites of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) in Kona, on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island. The detection triggered the launch of a state and county interagency response effort to manage and eradicate the invasive species.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, with the assistance of the County of Hawaiʻi Public Works Department, began another round of treatment of palm trees at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Tuesday, May 6, in an effort to stop the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) from becoming established on Hawaiʻi Island. This was a follow-up to treatment conducted last month at the airport.

The HDOA and Hawai‘i County crews completed the latest round of treatments on palm trees last week at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in the continuing effort to protect the island from CRB infestations.

US Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda have re-introduced the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Protection Act, which mandates USDA inspections of people, baggage, and cargo moving to Hawaiʻi, in coordination with federal agencies and the State.

Three live adult coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB) have been detected in traps in the Waikoloa area on Hawai‘i Island. The captures during the past week were the first detections of adult CRB on the island since six grubs (larvae) were found in October 2023, in a decaying palm tree by a resident in Waikoloa Village.

In a multi-agency effort, treatments, inspections and surveillance continue on Maui for coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB). To date, no CRB have been confirmed on Maui since an initial detection of 17 live CRB larvae in one palm tree in Kīhei in November 2023. One dead CRB adult was found at a Maui retail store in September 2023. 

The County of Maui Department of Agriculture launched a Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Working Group to address the threat of the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, which was reported recently in Kīhei. 

The new interim rule follows the first detection of CRB on Maui three weeks ago, when a dead adult CRB was found in a bag of compost shipped from O‘ahu at a Maui retailer. No other CRB has been detected on Maui. However, the efforts to restore the land and soil on Maui and Hawai‘i Island due to the wildfire damage have increased shipments of compost and organic landscaping material from O‘ahu, increasing the risk of the transport of CRB to non-infested areas.

The recent finding of a dead coconut rhinoceros beetle on Maui has prompted calls for vigilance among contractors and landowners to prevent the accidental spread of invasive species. This appeal comes at a time when the urgent need to address impacts from the Maui fires may increase the introduction of infested materials from off island.

One dead coconut rhinoceros beetle was found on Monday among compost bags at a Maui big-box store, by staff from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.

Two coconut rhinoceros beetles were found on Kaua‘i, in traps near a green waste transfer station close to the Līhu‘e Airport, agricultural officials said. These are the first detections of CRB (Oryctes rhinoceros) outside of O‘ahu. 

To help slow the spread of the invasive beetle on Oʻahu and to neighbor islands, the interim rule will restrict the movement or transportation of CRB host material within the island of Oʻahu and from a CRB-infested area to an area that is uninfested.