Bishop Musuem citations for Protaetia orientalis

corycampora — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:16:17 +0000

If you perform a search for Protaetia orientalis in the Bishop Museum Hawaiian arthropod checklist database, you a citation list with a few references. I looked up the Hawaiian Entomological Society citations, and they both reference interceptions of P. orientalis from airplanes arriving at Honolulu from Japan.

“RECENT INSECT INTERCEPTIONS – Mr. Chilson reported the following major interceptions by Federal inspectors at the various airports on Oahu during the past three months. All specimens were taken alive on airplanes, and all originated in Japan, with the single exception noted: Popillia japonica Newman; Honolulu airport, July 3, Mueller coll. Hickam Field, July 11, Stout coll. Acrida turrita (L.); Hickam Field, August 12, Messersmith coll. Protaetia orientalis Gory & Percheron; Honolulu airport, August 15, Messersmith coll. Xylotrupes gideon (L.); from the Philippines; collected aboard plane by stewardesses, Honolulu airport, August 12 (Greenfield). Spondylus buprestoides (L.); Honolulu airport, in suitcase, August 23, Mueller coll.”

(Chilson, L. M. 1952. Proc Haw Ent Soc. 14(3):363)

“BEETLES INTERCEPTED IN QUARANTINE – Mr. Mahler exhibited the following scarabaeid adults recently intercepted at Honolulu: Anomala cuprea (Hope). Dead in plane from Japan. Honolulu airport, June 16, J. Nichols. Anomala sp. Dead in plane from Japan, Honolulu airport, July 16, H. Messersmith. Also collected at Haneda airport, Japan, O. O. Stout. Anomala sulcatula Burmeister. Alive on motor vessel a few miles out of Midway Is., June 26, G. Dyson. Reported common on deck of ship at Midway. Anomala viridana Kolbe (A. japonica Arrow). Alive in plane from Wake Is., Honolulu airport, July 2, Ray Greenfield. The pilot reported many of these beetles seen alive on Wake. Protaetia orientalis (Gory and Percheron). Alive in plane from Japan, Hickam Field, Honolulu, June 17, W. O’Sullivan.”

(Maehler, K. L. 1953. Proc Haw Ent Soc. 15(1):13)

Proc Haw Ent Soc. 14(3):363

Protaetia orientalis in Hawaii

corycampora — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:50:29 +0000

I’m not sure how many people are aware of it, but Protaetia orientalis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) – the oriental flower beetle, is established in Hawaii. I occasionally see it buzzing around the Pearl Harbor area. In flight it looks a lot like a female carpenter bee. I actually set out some traps for this beetle a couple of years ago on base (Makalapa compound) – perhaps I’ll write about that another day – but I didn’t have a lot of success. I also have some experience with this little guy on Guam.

For now I’ll just post some pics from an encounter in 2002. This was before my time with Navy and involves my predecessor and mentor, Stan Higa. The golf course superintendent at Mamala Bay (Hickam AFB) asked Stan to go out and look at an African tulip tree on the 9th hole that was infested with a large scarab beetle. Stan checked it out on Nov 6, 2002, took some pictures, and collected some specimens. Bernar Kumashiro at HDOA identified the beetle as Protaetia orientalis. I’m not exactly sure what happened after that, but I think it was determined that the infestation was limited to that particular tree and treatment they didn’t find any more beetles in the area. Not sure how much monitoring they did in the area or for how long. I think I remember Bernar saying that there are other records of this species being found in Hawaii. Anyway, below are the pictures that Stan took of this particular incident.

Entophile » Protaetia orientalis

Bishop Musuem citations for Protaetia orientalis

Protaetia orientalis in Hawaii