Agricultural authorities in Solomon Islands are calling for a co-ordinated regional response to stop the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle.
Native to South East Asia the oryctes rhinoceros beetle, first appeared in Guam around 2012 and has since spread to Hawaii, Papua New Guinea and to Solomon Islands in 2015.
The director of biosecurity in Solomon Islands, Francis Tsatsia, told me the foreign beetle has no natural predators in the islands and is resistant to existing viral control measures.
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post
