Bishop Musuem citations for Protaetia orientalis

September 7, 2009

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

3 Comments leave one →

Aubrey Moore permalink

February 13, 2010 9:02 pm

Hi Cory,

Scarabs are jet setters which love to visit Hawaii. Here’s a list of scarabs intercepted on USAF planes flying from Guam to Honolulu. See http://www.guaminsects.net/gisac/index.php?title=USDA-APHIS_Interceptions_of_Insects_on_USAF_Aircraft_Flying_from_Guam_to_Honolulu

Scarabaeidae
Adoretus sinicus (8/28/1987; 4/1/1990; 7/29/1990)
Anomola sp. (11/27/1986; 8/20/1987; 6/14/1985; 5/16/1990; 5/12/1989; 6/8/1992; 6/11/1990; 5/25/1991)
Popillia lewisi (7/22/1991; 8/2/1991; 6/8/1990)
Protaetia orientalis (11/22/1984; 5/10/1993)

Reply
- corycampora permalink
  
  February 18, 2010 8:21 am
  
  Hey Aubrey,
  
  Thanks for the comment.
  
  Last week I was at a DOD Pest Management Workshop and during the quarantine session there was a talk about disinsection of aircraft. If I understood correctly, Air Force basically uses cans of D-phenothrin to kill any hitchiking bugs. As I heard that, I actually thought of some of these bigger scarabs and how tough they are. I wonder if a knock-down pyrethroid would really be enough to permanently take them out? My experience with big beetles and kill jars has always been that they last much longer than other insects.
  
  Also, during one trip to Guam, I wanted to bring some Protaetia pryeri back with me to Hawaii. I stuck a bag of them in the freezer over night, hoping I could pin them in the morning before my flight. Much to my dismay they were still moving after spending the night in my little hotel fridge/freezer. I guess its not surprising that they travel around so much on aircraft – wouldn’t be surprised if P. pryeri shows up in Hawaii or even CRB.
  
  Thanks again for visiting my crappy little blog – comments are always welcome!
  
  Cory
  
  Reply