![]() The beetles, which are active at night and can fly from tree to tree from surprisingly long distances, feed on coconut, royal, date and fan palms, officials said. Native to Southeast Asia, adult coconut rhinoceros beetles feed on emerging palm fronds, often causing enough damage to kill a tree. With hanging panel traps set across the island, high-catch areas continue to be Pearl City Peninsula, Waipio Peninsula, West Loch, Ewa Beach and Central Oahu, while there have been increased detections on the North Shore and new finds in Laie, Kahuku and Waimanalo. ![]() Detections of the 2-inch-long, black beetle with the distinctive rhino horn have increased in the past six months, officials said. While decent progress was made, populations continued to grow and spread across the island. But the truth is the best tools and techniques for eradicating the beetle were unknown and required research, he said. Oishi said that when the insect was first detected at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in December 2013, state and federal agencies took immediate and coordinated action. "We're losing, " replied Darcy Oishi, incident commander of multiagency Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response team. He previously was under the impression the beetle was under control, and so he asked officials point-blank whether they were winning, losing or holding their own. ![]() Gene Ward (R, Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley ) called the testimony a wake-up call. The committee unanimously passed House Bill 1149, which would allocate $720, 000 in each of the next two years for positions and activities related to coconut rhinoceros beetle control.ĭespite a nine-year, multi agency battle against the bug on Oahu, eradication appears to be unattainable here, and officials have turned to a containment and control strategy that aims to prevent the beetle from reaching the neighbor islands.įollowing Friday's hearing, committee member Rep. I can't imagine a palm tree-void Hawaii, but I'm afraid that's where we're headed."įleming was among those who testified Friday before the state House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems, calling for more help in the war against an invasive species that attacks coconut trees and other palms and plants. "We spend about $800 per acre per month in nothing but trying to deal with this beetle."įleming said he's holding his ground in the war against the coconut rhinoceros beetle, but "I'm losing the battle. "We are battling these things all day, every day, " he said.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |