Characterizing the Acalolepta aesthetica Invasion in Hawai‘i

Abstract

This internship project encompassed my work on the Queensland Longhorned Beetle (Acalolepta aesthetica), a newly established pest species on Hawai‘i island. The larvae have been documented in cacao, breadfruit, kukui, and various citrus trees. Due to the detrimental impact of this pest to both agriculturally and culturally important plant species, understanding both the developmental biology and genotypic diversity is crucial. Analysis of mitochondrial haplotypes in a subset of the beetle population on Hawai‘i island shows no mitochondrial haplotype diversity which supports the theory that the founding population was derived from the offspring of one female. Through establishment of both a reporting pipeline as well as a rearing colony, we hope to develop effective trapping methods.