Biosecurity Vanuatu is conducting surveillance at Magaliliu village, north of Efate following the discovery of a new Invasive strain of the coconut rhinoceros beetle.
The surveillance is to determine the extent of invasion of the coconut rhinoceros beetle that was first found on 20 May,2019.
Biosecurity Vanuatu confirmed that the coconut rhinoceros beetle is a pest of coconut and palm trees.
It is native to western Europe and Scandinavia but has spread into Africa, Asia and the Pacific islands.
In the Pacific region, the coconut rhinoceros beetle is known to occur in American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Wallis & Futuna.
There are two recognised strains of CRB: CRB-S type and CRB- G type.
CRB-S is the strain that typically occurs in the Pacific.
CRB-G is a new strain of coconut rhinoceros beetle first identified in Guam in the Pacific region in 2007 that has since spread to Papua New Guinea in 2009, Hawaii and Palau in 2014 and the Solomon Islands in 2015.
Specimens of the beetle recently detected at Magaliliu village in Vanuatu were sent to New Zealand Plant Health and Environment Laboratory where they were confirmed to be CRB-S (Pacific strain).
The CRB-S strain is generally susceptible to a biological control virus that is specific for this beetle and this possible control measure will be included in response strategy considerations.
The beetle feeds on sap of coconut palms and causes significant damage when larvae of the beetle bore into the crowns of the coconut trees, burrowing as deep as 50 cm (19.7 in) into the host tissue, resulting in destruction of unopened leaves and even palm death.
The damage caused by these coconut rhinoceros beetles mean that it is an imminent threat to our livelihood as well as rural economies that rely on coconut production for income.
The Secretariat of Pacific Community is providing specialist technical advice on measures to eradicate the pest including the possible use of biological control that has been successfully used in Fiji.
Photo supplied. Caption: Adult coconut rhinoceros beetle