The Department of Biosecurity has announced plans to send officers to Epi Island to confirm a suspected outbreak of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB).

The decision follows a report received from the Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) based on Epi earlier this week. In an interview, Senior Biosecurity Officer Leisongi Bulesule confirmed the department is taking immediate action.

“We are sending two plant health support officers along with one of our senior officers to carry out surveillance on the island. Their goal is to map out how far the beetle has spread, build CRB traps, and put management measures in place,” said Bulesule.

She added that the team will also work closely with the local ADO to raise community awareness on how to identify and manage the pest.

“It’s important we involve the local officer and the communities – not only in setting up traps but in understanding what they can do to control the spread,” she said.

The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle has been present in Vanuatu for more than six years, first identified on Efate. In 2023, the pest was confirmed on Santo. Now, recent information from Epi suggests it may have reached that island too, likely through movement by ships.

Despite ongoing containment efforts by Biosecurity Vanuatu, the beetle continues to spread, posing a threat to coconut trees.

Confirmation of the Epi outbreak is currently underway.