Hawaii Intensifies Efforts to Combat Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Invasion

New regulations aim to curb the spread of the destructive beetles threatening Hawaii's agriculture and ecosystem.

The Hawaii agriculture board has approved new rules to prevent the movement of infested materials between islands, focusing on soil, compost, and green waste.
Coconut rhinoceros beetles, which can kill palm and other tropical trees, were first detected in Hawaii in 2013 and have since spread to multiple islands.
The beetles are native to Africa and Southeast Asia, and can fly up to two miles, laying up to 140 eggs in their 4-9 month lifespan.
Conservation efforts include trained scent-detection dogs and more than 100 traps set up across the state to monitor and control beetle populations.
The new regulations follow a 20-month delay and are part of a broader strategy to strengthen Hawaii's biosecurity and pest control measures.