A home gardener was horrified to discover 50 coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae in a bag of Miracle-Gro garden soil, which are known to destroy plant life.
Joe, a military veteran, had opened a bag of nutrient-packed plant food when he discovered the massive infestation, all of which were alive.
The tree-killing pests are known to be mulch, compost and green waste. They take four to six months to develop into adult beetles.
“I’ve heard about it. I’ve seen the damage it’s caused,” he said. WCAX while pointing towards the white caterpillars.
Joe, a Hawaiian gardener and military veteran, was horrified after discovering 50 coconut rhinoceros beetles that could destroy plant life in a bag of Miracle-Gro garden soil.
Joe also revealed that he had purchased the bag of land on Naval Exchange in April, but had only opened it this month.
Joe also revealed that he had purchased the bag of land on Naval Exchange in April, but had only opened it this month.
DailyMail.com has contacted Miracle-Gro for comment.
The discovery further surprised the veteran after the Hawaii Department of Agriculture revealed that the beetles had not been detected on the mainland prior to this incident.
Joe said the department informed him that the larvae could have gotten into the soil once he took it home due to “pencil-sized holes” in the bag.
But the experienced gardener said the air holes in his bag are too small to be considered “pencil-sized.”
Native to Southeast Asia, coconut rhinoceros beetles are one of the most damaging pests of coconut palms and could pose a threat to Hawaii’s only endangered native palm tree, the Loulu.
The tree-killing pests are known to be mulch, compost and green waste. They take four to six months to develop into adult beetles.
After the problem was reported, agriculture officials inspected the Naval Exchange Garden Center but found no infestation.
“It could have been worse because if the bags at the retail point of sale had become infested and spread all over the place, even further into the state, that’s the biggest fear we have,” said Hawaii Department of Agriculture Chair Sharon Hurd.
Native to Southeast Asia, coconut rhinoceros beetles are one of the most damaging pests of coconut palms and could pose a threat to Hawaii’s only endangered native palm tree, the Loulu.
The insects tend to lay eggs and develop inside rotting coconut logs, mulch, or compost piles.
The larvae feed on decaying wood and organic material for about four to six months before transforming into pupae.
Once they reach adulthood, these beetles live between four and nine months and are most active at night.
