How did the rhino beetle come to Guam?
A recent study shows that a lack of birds and rats — because of the brown tree snake inadvertently brought to Guam in the late 1940s or early 1950s — is making it easier for rhino beetles to breed in the crowns of coconut trees, something that usually doesn’t happen.
When did rhino beetles come to Guam?
2007
Researchers have documented what biologists call a ‘host shift’ of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Guam. The beetle, first documented as an invasive species in Guam in 2007, has been devastating the island’s ubiquitous coconut palms and is now also burrowing into Guam’s endangered native cycad tree, Cycas micronesica.
Where did the rhino beetle come from?
The rhinoceros beetle is native to Africa, China, Myanmar/India, and Southeast Asia and has been introduced to several Pacific Islands including Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Fiji, and Guam.
Are rhino beetles in the US?
Rhinoceros beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica. In the United States, they live in the south from Arizona northeast to Nebraska and eastward. Leaf litter, plants, and fallen logs provide a safe hideout for rhinoceros beetles during the day.
Are there coconuts in Guam?
Each year, in the contemporary life of Guam’s people, coconut plants are harvested, from nuts to leaves, as students of CHamoru culture celebrate ‘CHamoru month.
What insects are in Guam?
Guampedia
- Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle.
- Flame Tree Looper.
- Asian Cycad Scale Insect.
- Cycad Blue Butterfly.
- Psyllids.
- Greater Banded Hornet.
- Little Fire Ants.
- Lobate lac scale.
How do you take care of a rhinoceros beetle?
Be sure to change the food every day, preferably in the evening, to make sure this nocturnal beetle has fresh food as he is waking up. Water for drinking is unnecessary, as the jelly and fruits provide enough, but be sure to keep his/her soil moist — which leads to the next point.
Can rhino beetle fly?
The body of an adult rhinoceros beetle is covered by a thick exoskeleton. A pair of thick wings lie atop another set of membranous wings underneath, allowing the rhinoceros beetle to fly, although not very efficiently, owing to its large size. Their best protection from predators is their size and stature.
What eats a rhino beetle?
Rhinoceros Beetles are among the largest of beetles in the world. The Rhinoceros Beetle is aptly named because it has horns on its head, very much like the rhinoceros does. Rhino Beetles reach 60 millimetres in length.
Are there palm trees in Guam?
The palms on Guam are currently threatened by an invasive insect, called the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. The coconut palm is interwoven into the history of the CHamoru people more so than any of the other traditional plants. These trees provide the necessities of life – food, drink, oil, thatch, and animal feed.
Is the coconut tree native to Guam?
Most used of plants. The coconut, called niyok in Chamorro/CHamoru and cocos nucifera scientifically, is undoubtedly one of the most important native plant foods in the Mariana Islands. The coconut tree is the most used of all plants native to the Mariana Islands.
Is the coconut rhinoceros beetle a threat to Guam?
Since then, these shoe-shine black, miniature invaders have spread to all parts of the island and are laying waste to the local coconut and oil palm population. The economy, culture and ecology of Guam and other Pacific islands are intrinsically linked to the native palm species such that the rhino beetle poses a major threat.
Where was the coconut rhinoceros beetle first found?
An adult male coconut rhinoceros beetle. Emmy Engasser, Hawaiian Scarab ID, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org 10 years ago the Coconut Rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was first discovered on the western Pacific island of Guam.
Why are there so many rhinoceros beetles in Palau?
In Palau, there was a population explosion of rhino beetles because WWII activities created abundant breeding sites. This resulted in about 50% coconut palm mortality overall, and total loss of coconut palms on some of the smaller islands [4] .
What kind of bug kills palms on Guam?
During recent years, many coconuts and other palms on Guam have been severely damaged and killed by the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) (Figure 1↓ ). There is no estimate for the proportion of palms killed but it is obvious to residents and visitors that the island’s palms are being killed at an alarming rate.