Coconut Beetle Alert on Big Island | Honolulu News

Another coconut rhinoceros beetle spotted on the Big Island — this one a dead female caught at Hilo Airport in July, likely hitched a ride in June. Not the first time this invasive pest has shown up; it’s already been spotted near mulch piles and even shipped in dead before. This beetle’s a menace to palms, bananas, and native trees — feeding on new growth until the whole plant collapses. Larvae thrive in decaying plant matter, so yard waste piles are a major risk. Authorities are urging residents to take green waste to county facilities where it’s heat-treated to kill pests, and they’re ramping up traps and surveys around the airport. A new compliance notice from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture targets materials these beetles love, especially after sightings on Maui, Molokai, and Kona. If you’re in Keaukaha, Panaewa, or Hilo and want to help, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee needs your trap-hosting support — call or email them. Stay vigilant — this pest is spreading, and we’re all in this together. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d68f2a882b2a0358