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.
Ryan Perroy
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UH Hilo
This interview aired on The Conversation on Dec. 9, 2024. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
