Dead coconut rhinoceros beetle found at Kahului Airport; suspected CRB detected on Molokai
Published on April 9, 2026.
State and invasive species officials are expanding surveillance and urging residents to check palms and green waste after a dead adult coconut rhinoceros beetle was found in a detection trap at Kahului Airport and a second, believed to be a CRB, was collected near Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai. This latest detection is the third on the island; the previous two involved live larvae found in the crown of a dead palm and a dead adults discovered in a bag of soil at the point of sale. On April 2, personnel from the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) and HDAB began surveys in the surrounding area for potential breeding sites. Additional detection traps have been deployed around the area and surrounding palms will be surveyed for feeding damage. The Maui CRB Working Group has issued a warning to Maui residents to be vigilant when purchasing or moving mulch, compost and soil products, and avoiding bags with damaged packaging or holes.
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