28 Oct 2025

Battle to Beat Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle: UH Hilo Researchers Conduct Aerial Survey in Kona

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aerial view of the flight path
Flight path of the CRB survey in Kona is shown in green. (Photo credit: Andrew Meyer/SDAV/UH Hilo)

A team from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is taking a bird’s-eye view in the fight against one of Hawaiʻi’s most damaging invasive insects, the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB).

Close-up of coconut rhinoceros beetle being held.
Live adult male coconut rhinoceros beetle. (Photo credit: oscaryin/Wikipedia)

Researchers from UH Hilo’s Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization (SDAV) Lab joined the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) on an aerial survey over Kona in October. Flying aboard a helicopter equipped with high-powered cameras and GPS, the group scanned about 4,000 acres for mulch piles and signs of beetle activity.

“The goal of this survey was to fly over residential areas to search for mulch and green waste piles so BIISC can better target their ground surveys for CRB grubs and beetles,” said Olivia Jarvis, a geospatial research associate who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology and environmental science at UH Hilo.

Underside of helicopter
Andrew Meyer mounts a camera to the imaging rig under the helicopter. (Credit: Franny Brewer/BIISC)

The flight team included pilot David Okita from Volcano Helicopters, BIISC’s Dustin Swan, and SDAV researchers Jarvis and Andrew Meyer and Ryan Perroy, a UH Hilo geography and environmental science professor who leads the SDAV lab.

“My main contribution on the day was to help set up SDAV’s helicopter imaging rig, which allows us to securely mount visual cameras for helicopter based mapping operations,” said Meyer who also earned an environmental science degree at UH Hilo. “I was also providing our skillful pilot, David Okita, a flight guide to ensure we effectively map the area of interest.”

Back to the lab

Back in Hilo, the SDAV team analyzed more than 6,000 high-resolution images, digitally stitched into a single mosaic map. Researchers searched for mulch piles, damaged coconut trees, or other clues of beetle presence.

Researchers hope the view from above can make tracking the invasive beetle faster and far more effective.

For more go to UH Hilo Stories.

—By Susan Enright, UH Hilo Stories

Group photo next to helicopter
The Kona survey crew pre-flight, from left, Dustin Swan, Ryan Perroy, Andrew Meyer and Olivia Jarvis

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environmental sciencegeography and environmental sciencetropical conservation biology and environmental scienceUH HiloUH Hilo Stories