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.
