Traps Help to Prevent Invasive Beetle Spread

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle photo courtesy of KISC

MoMISC News Release

If you see large black rocket-looking objects hanging from tree branches across the island, these are coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) traps.
Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC) is currently surveying palm plants for 45-degree, V-shaped cuts on palm fronds with scalloped leaf edges and 2-inch bore holes on palm stems. We are using the black, 3.5-foot plastic panel trap with pheromones to attract and detect adult CRB. MoMISC has deployed 40 of these traps across Molokai including Kalaupapa. MoMISC is working closely with the Maui County Department of Agriculture and the statewide CRB Response team on this project.
CRB was first detected on O‘ahu in late 2013. Last year, over just a few months, the dreaded CRB was detected first on Kaua‘i, then on the Big Island and Maui. CRB is widespread on Oʻahu where this pest is wreaking havoc with multiple species of palm trees as well as other plants. Not known to be on Molokai, the best hope is early detection and, if detected, rapid response. The truth is that we don’t have any real solutions except to keep it from coming here in the first place.
We ask our community to please leave the traps alone and to call MoMISC at (808) 480-8191 if you see them on the ground or damaged.
For photos and more information on CRB and the damage they cause, go to crbhawaii.org
MoMISC is the Molokai subcommittee of the Maui Invasive Species Committee and a project of the University of Hawaiʻi, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Our mission is to prevent and control introduced invasive pests from becoming established on Molokai. MoMISC staff includes Lori Buchanan (Coordinator), Kamalani Pali, Kawehi Soares and Tyson Pactol. We work to keep Molokai free of new invasive species but need support from our community to makaʻala: be vigilant, report and don’t transport any known invasive species. Most invasive species make it to Molokai by people. It takes everyone on our island to take care of our island.
Reports are confidential and there is no cost for us to respond. If you need advice, have questions or think you have a new invasive species problem, contact MoMISC at (808) 480-8191.