This pest is widespread

The oriental flower beetle (Protaetia orientalis, OFB) is a bronze speckled scarab beetle that feeds on pollen, nectar, sap, and fruit on a variety of different plants. They prefer to eat fruits that are overripe or already damaged. While they are a generalist pests that can attack many different plants and are not typically welcome guests in any garden, they do not cause nearly the destruction of other large beetles in Hawai’i, like the Coconut Rhinoceros beetle (CRB).

While you may see the adults flying around, the grubs are more likely to surprise you when you’re working in the soil of your garden. Similar to the rhino beetle, adult OFB lay their eggs in soil or compost, where their keiki emerge as grubs and eat decaying organic matter. The grubs of the two beetles appear nearly identical to the untrained eye. In fact, the easiest way to tell them apart is not by appearance, but by watching how they move. OFB grubs will flip over onto their back and wiggle away upside-down. CRB grubs will curl up into a C-shape and inch away on their side.

If you find a suspicious beetle or grub and can’t tell if its a OFB or a CRB, take a picture and send it to us! Be sure to take a few moments to watch how they move before throwing them in the freezer (get a video if you can!). Providing that information can help us identify the grub species for you.