Outbreak of Invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle in Rota Island

An outbreak of the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle was averted on Rota after two typhoons destroyed beetle traps on the island.

The Northern Marianas Department of Lands and Natural Resource personnel on island reinstalled the traps. They then discovered the new nesting and breeding sites. Since the re-installation of traps, the department said they have reverted to a previous cycle of catching only one or two beetles a month. Its ultimate goal is to eradicate the beetle specie on Rota as it threatens the island’s palm tree population.

However, the department staff recently collected beetle larvae outside the original outbreak area. The highly invasive species, which has decimated neighboring Guam’s coconut population, was first discovered on Rota in 2017.