![]() ![]() This gives a good indication that the autodissemination method is working. This has already been shown to be taking effect: sites that have been treated and revisited have been found with dead or dying beetles, and grubs found at previously unknown and untreated sites have been found dead as a result of infection with the fungus. A process of autodissemination has also been implemented – dusting trapped male beetles, which are then released so that they spread the fungal spores to undiscovered breeding sites. Following lab tests, powder containing the spores was distributed to farmers to apply to infested palms. This fungus was chosen because it only affects the rhino beetles. Spores of Metarhizium, also known as green muscardine fungus, were imported at the end of 2011. This was when a biocontrol technique developed by the Philippines Coconut Authority was employed. ![]() An expert in audio detection of insects from the USDA also made audio recordings of beetle communication sounds to develop a method of detecting the invasive species using acoustic monitoring devices.īy last year, none of the measures taken had led to eradication of the rhino beetle. As control efforts weren’t working and the beetles continued to spread, in 2009 four detector dogs were brought in to sniff out the beetle breeding sites. ![]() This has been successful on other Pacific Islands that have suffered from invasions of the rhino beetle but, on Guam, the virus had little or no effect on the beetles. The first biocontrol attempt was in 2008, when a USDA-APHIS grant was provided to release a virus, which occurs naturally in Malaysia, that would kill the beetles. The Coconut Beetle Eradication Team set up a hotline (475-PEST) for members of the public to report incidences of the beetles, rewarding them with T-shirts as an incentive. There have also been some more novel ideas to control the beetles. Use of pesticides such as methoprene and cypermethrin was also implemented but with little effect.Ĭoconut palm damaged by rhino beetles © Pritham D'Souza Sanitation procedures have involved removing all beetles and grubs from their breeding sites and destroying all infested live and dead plant material. These traps didn’t result in sufficient numbers being caught to control the population but did give an opportunity to monitor spread. More than 1700 bucket traps were hung up in palm trees, containing pheromones to attract the beetles and designed so they couldn’t escape. Most of the control efforts have focussed on actively killing the beetles in various ways. Quarantine restrictions have been enforced, legislating that inspection and/or treatment of green waste and plants is required before it can be transported from an infested to an uninfested part of the island. Many different techniques have been tried out in an attempt to rid the island of these beetles but, until last year, were largely unsuccessful in making a negative impact on the rhinoceros beetle population. This provides plenty of dead palms for the beetle larvae to feed on, allowing the life cycle to continue. ![]() The adults bore into the trees to breed as they bore through the growing points of the trees, new leaves can’t be produced so the trees die. The beetles, which are native to south and southeast Asia, have devastating effects on palm trees at each stage of their life cycle. It is now present in many parts of the island and, as coconuts are an important economic commodity for the US territory, is high priority for removal. Over the past five years it has caused severe damage to coconut palms, although its initial spread was slowed by the quick reactions of the government. The coconut rhinoceros beetle ( Oryctes rhinoceros) was first discovered in Guam on 11th September 2007. The Guam Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Eradication Project has finally found a technique that could bring them their own eradication success story. It takes a large combined effort to successfully eradicate a plant pest. The coconut rhinoceros beetle has damaged many palm trees in Guam © Peter Lillywhite, Museum Victoria, Pests and Diseases Image Library (CC BY 3.0 license) ![]()
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