This activity was designed for students in grades 5-8. It closely resembles the process our field team follows to identify and categorize potential coconut rhinoceros beetle breeding material. All ages are welcome and encouraged to complete this activity!
Coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB) spend the first several months of their life in breeding sites: mulch, compost, green waste, and other decomposing plant material. But, not all green waste is equally appealing to CRB. In this activity, you'll learn about CRB life stages, the damage they cause to palms, and what kind of breeding material is most appealing to them.
Third instar coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae can grow to 3.5-4 inches before pupating.
This mulch survey will guide you through the process that our technicians follow to look for potential CRB breeding sites, document that information, and identify CRB and look-alike grubs in green waste piles. You can find a video explanation here.
After you complete your survey, please submit your data to us by using the QR code on the worksheet. You can also enter your data at this link.
Mahalo for your work to identify possible CRB breeding sites and remove these harmful pests from Hawaii's environment!
Click to view and download the activity sheet.
