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The presence of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros) was reported on Efate, Vanuatu in 2019. The beetle population was determined to belong to the CRB‐S group (Clade II), similar to populations found in the Bismark Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. An introduction of the CRB‐G group (Clade IA) was discovered in 2021. Damage mapping, beetle trapping and genomic identification show that CRB‐S has now spread around about half of the island from the site of the original introduction. CRB‐G is mainly restricted to the seaport and surrounding areas of Port Vila with some outlying specimens. Through the efforts of Biosecurity Vanuatu, O. rhinoceros is still contained on the Efate group of islands and has not spread to the major copra‐producing islands in other parts of the country. Sanitation efforts appear to have reduced damage from coconut rhinoceros beetle within the zone of first arrival of the pest (Mangaliliu, Efate). Oryctes rhinoceros damage, however, is severe in areas with old plantations and limited sanitation activities (e.g. Mele/Devil's point, Efate). A concerted effort is necessary to contain the beetle on Efate and to reduce further spread and impact on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros L.) is one of the most damaging pests of coconut and oil palms in the Asia/Pacific region but has not been reported from the Western Hemisphere. Here, we report a possible establishment of CRB in Nayarit, Mexico, based on an analysis of social media reports and photographs indicating the presence of the beetle and the distinctive v‐shaped notches in palm fronds caused by the beetle feeding. CRB populations are destructive once established, therefore, urgent actions are required to contain the pest and prevent damage to coconut and oil palm in the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beauveria pseudobassiana formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CAs were formed mainly by blastospores and conidia, distinct from microsclerotia formed through adhesion of hyphae. The formation, germination and sporulation of CAs were studied, as well as the pathogenicity of conidia produced from them against adults of black beetle. After 4 days of culture, CAs were formed, becoming compact and melanised after 10 days of incubation. Electron microscopy showed three-dimensional CAs averaging 431.65 µm in length with irregular shapes and rough surfaces, where cells were trapped within an extracellular matrix. CAs germinated after 2 days of incubation on agar-plates producing hyphae and forming phialides and conidia after 4 days. Produced conidia caused 45% mortality of black beetle adults. CAs germination and sporulation on soil were directly correlated with soil moisture, reaching 80% and 100% germination on the surface of soil with 17% and 30% moisture, respectively. CAs maintained 100% germination after 2 years of storage under refrigeration. These CAs could have a similar function as microsclerotia in nature, acting as resistant structures able to protect internal cells and their ability to sporulate producing infective conidia, suggesting their potential to be used as bioinsecticides to control soil-dwelling insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An invasive population of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in 2015. The beetle has caused severe damage to coconut palms in the outbreak area and its continued spread threatens the food security and livelihood of thousands of smallholder farmers in the region. Spread and abundance of the beetle were monitored using bucket traps baited with the aggregation pheromone, ethyl-4 methyloctanoate. Beetles were collected from traps approximately bi-weekly for two periods; one during 2017-18 and the other during 2019-2020. Trap catches showed that CRB was present throughout the whole survey region with significantly higher numbers of female CRB trapped than males. Results indicate a significant 1.5-fold increase in CRB trap catch numbers from 2017-2018 to 2019-2020 despite control efforts. The number of CRB adults trapped also varied between sites and months during both time periods but with no clear patterns. Removal of breeding sites along with strong local quarantine should remain the top priority of the local government to contain CRB expansion within Solomon Islands and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros , CRB), a native to South-east Asia, is a major pest of coconut and oil palms in the Pacific. Beetles produce an aggregation pheromone identified as ethyl 4-methyloctanoate (E4-MO). Beetles use this pheromone to locate suitable feeding sites in palms and breeding materials. E4-MO has been used for more than 30 years for monitoring and trapping of CRB but recent range expansion by the pest requires re-evaluation of strategies for its use. In this review, we present a brief history of CRB attractants and the discovery of E4-MO. We also describe pheromone-based strategies used to manage CRB, including pest detection, monitoring, and mass trapping. We identify issues and areas for improvement in pheromone-based strategies against CRB and suggest directions for future research to optimize the management of this invasive pest. • Ethyl 4-methyloctanoate (E4-MO) used as aggregation pheromone against coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) for 30+ years. • CRB pheromone traps widely used to detect new infestations, to monitor the spread, and to evaluate control measures. • Effectiveness of traps could be enhanced with improvement in design and attractants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some species in the genus Pyronota are known to be serious pests of pasture. The establishment of new dairy pastures on recently flipped soils on Cape Foulwind, Buller provided a unique opportunity to investigate the flight behaviour and biology of Pyronota festiva and P. setosa from 2008-2012. Flight behaviour was monitored by fixed-vane interruption traps and by field observations. Adults of both species flew through late spring/ early summer (Nov-Dec) of each year and seasonal flight timing was consistent between years. Pyronota festiva flight timing and duration were similar to those previously reported in the literature and were slightly female dominated. Pyronota setosa flights started one to two weeks in advance of P. festiva and were dominated by males (>95%). Female P. setosa were rarely observed flying and were rarely caught in sweep-net sampling. Pyronota setosa beetles were never observed swarming or congregating and feeding on the foliage of mānuka. These differences in flight behaviour may help to explain the field observations that P. festiva can rapidly invade new pastures while P. setosa populations appear to spread more slowly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The introduction of Oryctes virus into outbreak areas of the rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), has been a major success for “classical” biocontrol with a virus and has led to a dramatic reduction in palm damage in many areas of the Asia/Pacific region. In recent years, however, there have been new reports of high levels of rhinoceros beetle damage to palms. Damage has been especially intense in SE Asia following the introduction of no-burn polices for land clearance and replanting, but outbreaks have also been reported from some Pacific Islands where control seems to have diminished over time. SE Asian studies show that there is considerable genetic variation among endemic Oryctes virus isolates and studies in new island release areas have shown rapid evolution of the virus. The consequences of such genetic variation are in need of further study. Furthermore, the taxonomic position of the virus is unclear, with its removal from the Baculoviridae to an “unassigned’ virus, reflecting its novel characteristics. Genomic sequencing could help resolve the taxonomy of the virus and provide a basis for studying strain variation. Oryctes virus has achieved wide success in the past without the benefit of molecular analysis and identification techniques. In order to fully take advantage of this unique pathogen for protection of palms, a renewed, coordinated effort centered on genetic selection and distribution of effective strains is required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bacteria of the genus Serratia are often associated with insects, often carry distinctive pigments and can be readily isolated onto diagnostic selective media. Bacterial marking of parasitoids has been used in studies to determine rate of oviposition and host acceptance, and it provides a rapid indication of ovipositor penetration. The technique has been applied to parasitoid-weevil and parasitoid-lepidoptera interactions. Bacterial marking has the potential to be used in parasitoid dispersal studies and its use in IPM is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cylindrocorpus inevectus sp. n. (Cylindrocorporidae: Nematoda) is described from oil palm flowers (Elaeis guineensis Jacquin) and from the under surface of the elytra of the oil palm weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus (Faust) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Malaysia. Cylindrocorpus inevectus sp. n. differs from previously described species in the genus (as defined in the present study) by apparently having only eight pairs of genital papillae in contrast to nine or ten pairs. In addition, the male of the new species differs from C. macrolaimus (Schneider) and C. longistoma (Stefanski) by possessing a very short tail spine. The degree of stoma coverage by the pharyngeal sleeve is suggested as an important character and is 77% in C. longistoma but 91% in C. inevectus sp. n. In the male of C. erectus the bursa does not encircle the tail tip and the tail is much stouter than that of C. inevectus sp. n. In addition, there are only two pairs of pre-anal papillae and two pairs of dorso-lateral post-anal papillae in C. erectus but three pairs of pre-anal papillae and only one pair of dorso-lateral post-anal papillae in C. inevectus sp. n. From C. curzii the new species differs in having the bursal membrane continuing around the tail tip with only two pairs of pre-anal papillae reaching the bursal rim. A key to the genera of the Cylindrocorporidae is provided and Myctolaimus rifflei (Massey & Hinds, 1970) comb. n. is proposed. Because of their parasitic association with vertebrates and morphological characters distinct from those of the saprophagic Cylindrocorporidae, such as the corpus merging with the isthmus, the absence of a valve in the corpus, a posteriorly located vulva, the presence of lateral alae, a reduced number of genital papillae and ovoviviparous nature, members of the genus Longibucca, previously placed in the Cylindrocorporidae, are placed in the new family Longibuccidae fam. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yersinia entomophaga MH96, which was originally isolated from the New Zealand grass grub, Costelytra zealandica, pro-duces an orally active proteinaceous toxin complex (Yen-Tc), and this toxin is responsible for mortality in a range of insect species, mainly within the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. The genes encoding Yen-Tc are members of the toxin complex (Tc) family, with orthologs identified in several other bacterial species. As the mechanism of Yen-Tc activity remains unknown, a histopathological examination of C. zealandica larvae was undertaken in conjunction with cultured cells to identify the effects of Yen-Tc and to distinguish the contributions that its individual subunit components make upon intoxication. A progressive series of events that led to the deterioration of the midgut epithelium was observed. Additionally, experiments using a cell culture assay system were carried out to determine the cellular effects of intoxication on cells after topical ap-plication and the transient expression of Yen-Tc and its individual components. While observations were broadly consis-tent with those previously reported for other Tc family members, some differences were noted. In particular, the distinct stepwise disintegration of the midgut shared features associated with both apoptosis and necrotic programmed cell death pathways. Second, we observed, for the first time, a contribution of toxicity from two chitinases associated with the Yen-Tc complex. Our findings were suggestive of the activities encoded within the subunit components of Yen-Tc targeting differ-ent sites along putative programmed cell death pathways. Given the observed broad host range for Yen-Tc, these targeted loci are likely to be widely shared among insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]