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Hawaiʻi Island aerial survey finds coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Maddie Bender
Published December 9, 2024 at 2:50 PM HST
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles
Mark Ladao
/
HPR
FILE - Crews from Honolulu had to cut down palm trees on Oʻahu infected with the coconut rhinoceros beetles. (Oct. 7, 2024)

Residents of Waikōloa Village may have heard a helicopter flying overhead last week. However, this wasn’t an ordinary flight. A rig strapped to the bottom of the chopper was taking photos of the area to look for coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations.

The effort marked the first time a helicopter aerial survey has been used for the invasive beetle in Hawai’i. Researchers identified eight potential infestations.

HPR talked to Ryan Perroy, a geography and environmental science professor at UH Hilo who oversaw the survey.

An image from the helicopter aerial survey shows a coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation.
Ryan Perroy
/
UH Hilo
An image from the helicopter aerial survey shows a coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation.

This interview aired on The Conversation on Dec. 9, 2024. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
Tags
The Conversation Hawaiʻi Islandinvasive speciesEnvironment
Maddie Bender
Maddie Bender is the executive producer of The Conversation. She also provided production assistance on HPR's "This Is Our Hawaiʻi" podcast. Contact her at mbender@hawaiipublicradio.org.
See stories by Maddie Bender
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