Invasion alert: the coconut rhinoceros beetle outbreak on Efate, Vanuatu

An incursion of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros) was reported in Efate, Vanuatu in 2019. The beetle population was determined to belong to CRB-S (Clade II) similar to CRB populations found in the Bismark Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. A second incursion of CRB-G (Clade IA) was discovered in 2021. Damage mapping, beetle trapping, and genomic identification show that CRB-S has now spread around about half of the island from the site of the original incursion. CRB-G is mainly restricted to the port and surroundings of Port Vila with some outlying specimens. Through the efforts of Biosecurity Vanuatu, CRB is still contained in the Efate group of islands and has not spread to the major copra-producing islands in other parts of the country. Sanitation efforts appear to have reduced damage from CRB within the zone of the first arrival of the pest (Managaliliu, Efate). CRB damage, however, is severe in areas with old plantations and limited sanitation activities (e.g., Mele/Devil’s point, Efate). A concerted effort is necessary to contain the beetle on Efate and to reduce its spread and impact on the island.