Hawaii Invasive Species Council

INTRO:

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) has been moving across the Pacific since 1940s. It has become increasingly problematic to pacific island nations as time has passed. There has been much research done to protect coconut trees, palms, and to control CRB globally. This table is a compilation of information to show the efficacy of different biocontrol and pesticides. Due to the widespread nature of infestation on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, we are looking towards long term solutions for CRB management. Biocontrol presents a possible long term solution, lessening the load of pesticide impacts on the environment. This presents a more sustainable approach with less environmental impacts. 

Biocontrol	Description	Status
Metarhizium anisopliae	A fungi that grows naturally in soils, this fungus causes disease in almost 200 species of insects most of which are beetles. It is one of the most widely used biocontrol agents for insects in the world.	Effective but not available/registered in Hawaiʻi.
Metarhizium majus	A group of fungal isolates that are known to cause disease in beetles in the Scarabaeidae family.	Effective but not available/registered in Hawaiʻi.
Beauveria bassiana	A fungus with a wide host range that grows naturally in soils and acts as a parasite on various insects.	Effective but would need a label change, botaniguard is the registered product for coffee berry bore, not registered for use against CRB. Needs very high concentration not practical.
Milky Spore	Milky spore is a naturally occuring bacterium, that is primarily useful for controlling Japanese beetle grubs. It must be ingested by the grubs while they feed to work.	No uses for CRB.
Nematodes	Nematodes are tiny roundworms found in diverse environments like soil, water, and as parasites in plants and animals. A small number of them cause death in insects but tend to be difficult and expensive to mass produce.	Not very effective. Highest mortality was 30% in lab tests.
Nudivirus	Nudiviruses are an important family of viruses for biocontrol. Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) has been used to control Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) in parts of Asia and the Pacific.	Working on permitting for importation to Hawaiʻi.
Wild predators (mongoose, pigs, chickens, egrets, rats)	People have proposed using large animals as a means to control CRB.	They work but not terribly effective. Animals will mostly go after CRB larvae on surface.
Domesticated predators (pigs, chickens, dogs)	People have proposed using large animals as a means to control CRB.	They work but not terribly effective. Mostly must present CRB to animals.

 

Chemical controls:	Chemicals used:	Description:
Pyrethrins and pyrethroids	Cypermethrin (and Zeta form) Pyrethrum extract Lambda cyhalothrin Prallethrin Piperonyl Butoxide (enhancer, makes other chemicals work better by stopping insect from breaking them down, irritates insect)	Work, different pyrethrins and pyrethroids have different efficacy. Canopy spray applications. Best tool available at the moment, pyrethrum extract degrades quickly (~1 week) synthetics can last up to 3 months.
Organophosphates	Acephate	Acephate worked well in feeding trials with at UH.
Neonicotinoids	Imidacloprid Dinotefuran	Injection based applications are effective.
Abamectin	Emamectin benzoate (different chemical)	Not effective in field trials.
Hormone analogs	Pyriproxifen	No data on effectiveness at UH.
FIFRA 25(b) insecticides		Class of pesticides not regulated by the EPA.
Salts	Sodium chloride Sea water Magnesium sulfate Calcium chloride	Questionable legality, could poison other plants. Magnesium sulfate however is not toxic to plants and can be applied as fertilizer. Sea water on property could be applied to infected compost, could dig a hole and put infected material inside.
Soaps and detergents		Needs to make direct contact to be effective. Not terribly feasible.
Neem oil (Azadirachtin (neem extract))		Tests at UH showed it is ineffective.
Basil oil		Basil oil protected palms when applied at 3 week interval when tested in field. Seems to be effective, acts as a repellant.
Repellents	Irish spring soap Moth balls Used Coffee Grounds Capsaicin	No data on effectiveness at UH.
Diatomaceous earth		Not effective.