Experiments with the virus Rhabdionvirus oryctes against the coconut palm rhinoceros beetles Oryctes rhinoceros and Scapanes australis grossepunctatus in New Guinea

The virus Rhabdionvirus oryctes, originally discovered in larvae of the coconut palm dynastid Oryctes rhinoceros in Malaysia, is also pathogenic to second- and early thirdinstar larvae of Scapanes australis grossepunctatus, a dynastid pest of palms in New Guinea. Mortality of Scapanes larvae occurs within 13 to 15 days of infection. Some older third-instar larvae may be resistant. The possibility of using the virus against Scapanes in the field is discussed.