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Oryctes rhinoceros (Guam Strain) (Coconut rhinoceros beetle)
Image
The adult male of Oryctes rhinoceros (Source: Emmy Engasser, Hawaiian Scarab ID, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org)
General information
The Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros (Linn) is a cosmopolitan pest of palms including coconut and oil palm. CRB invaded many Pacific islands in the early 20th century through human-mediated dispersal (Reil et al., 2018) and was first recorded in PNG in 1942 (Catley, 1969). The current invasive pest which is of concern is in fact a new biotype known as CRB Guam (CRB-G) based on its initial discovery in Guam in 2007. However, there are no known phenotypic differences between the individuals from Samoan/Pacific biotype (CRB-S/P) and the individuals from CRB-G biotype; the 2 biotypes can be distinguished only through molecular analysis.
The CRB-G biotype poses an imminent threat to Pacific livelihoods and economies reliant on coconuts; it can be potentially a threat to oil palm and other palms (especially ornamental) species. This biotype is highly invasive and damaging compared to CRB-S/P with the ability to cause significant damage (Marshall et al 2017) and to rapidly adapt to its environment.
Symptoms
- Adults feed in the crown region of coconut
- Multiple attacks in a same palm subsequently produce fronds which have wedge-shaped gaps or the characteristic V-shaped cuts to fronds (CABI ISC, 2022)
Damage on palm caused by CRB (Source: Aubrey Moore)
Taxonomic information
Category - Insect
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Arthropoda
Class - Insecta
Order - Coleoptera
Family - Scarabaeidae
Genus - Oryctes
Species - rhinoceros (Guam Strain)
Names
Common Name - Coconut rhinoceros beetle
Scientific Name - Oryctes rhinoceros (Guam Strain)
Distribution
Since its discovery in Guam Island, the new biotype has been recorded in 4 other Pacific Islands, including PNG (2009), Hawaii (2013), Palau (2014) and the Solomon Islands (2015) (Marshall et al 2017).
Prevention and Control
- CRB-G has been found to be less responsive to the aggregation pheromone (ethyl 4-methyloctanoate) which is used in IPM programmes i.e. for monitoring and control of CRB.
- CRB has also been managed through the introduction of a strain of Oryctes NudiVirus (Rhabdionvirus oryctes) which was successfully introduced into the Pacific Islands (Bedford, 2014).
- Recent studies based on molecular analysis revealed that CRB-G is resistant to Oryctes NudiVirus (Marshall et al 2017).
- Reil et al (2018), using various genetic (e.g. ddRAD sequencing) and phylogenetic analyses, suggested that the O. rhinoceros (CRB-G) resurgence is mediated by the resistance to previously successful OrNV nudivirus.
- General sanitation practices that involve keeping areas free of green waste help to reduce the number of breeding sites.
References
- Bedford, G.O. (2014). Advances in the control of rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros in oil palm. Journal of Oil Palm Research, 26,183-194.
- CABI ISC, 2022. Oryctes rhinoceros (coconut rhinoceros beetle). Assessed at https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/37974#todetectionAndInspection.
- Reil, J.B., Doorenweerd, C., San Jose, M., Sim, S.B., Geib, S.M., & Rubinoff, D. (2018). Transpacific coalescent pathways of coconut rhinoceros beetle biotypes: Resistance to biological control catalyses resurgence of an old pest. Molecular Ecology, 27, 4459-4474.
- Catley, A. (1969). The coconut rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros (L.). PANS, 15, 18–30.
- Marshall, S.D.G., Moore, A., Vaqalo, M., Noble, A. & Jackson, T.A. (2017). A new haplotype of the coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, has escaped biological control by Oryctes rhinoceros Nudivirus and is invading Pacific Islands. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 149.
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