Confirmation of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Specimens from Dili, Timor-Leste

In 2022, we reported a suspected incursion of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros, CRB) in Timor-Leste based on damage symptoms observed on coconut palms from publicly available images (Paudel and Jackson 2023). Local biosecurity officers were provided with CRB pheromones and received remote training on CRB identification, pheromone trap usage, and sample preservation. Gut sections from five CRB specimens were sent to be analysed. Morphological characteristics along with molecular analysis confirmed the specimens’ identity as CRB, belonging to the CRB-G haplotype group. Notably, no signs of the biological control agent, Oryctes nudivirus (OrNV), were detected in the samples. A comprehensive response plan to determine the possibility of eradication and prevent spread of the pest should be swiftly mobilized.