Aloha Trees Savers: Protecting Oahu Trees from Longhorn Beetles (Beyond Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles)

If you’ve been following efforts to protect Hawaii’s cherished trees, you’ve likely heard about Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB) and the ongoing battle to safeguard palm, ohia, and other native species. But did you know there’s another native-style threat many homeowners and conservationists should watch for? Longhorn beetles pose a serious danger to Ohia trees and other hardwoods, and a non-toxic, eco-friendly solution—our PTWK product—offers a path to protect Hawaii’s forests without harming people, pets, or wildlife.

In this post, we’ll cover:

- What longhorn beetles are and why they matter

- How they threaten Ohia trees and Hawaii’s ecosystems

- What makes non-toxic, eco-friendly PTWK an effective defense

- Practical steps for immediate protection and long-term care

What are longhorn beetles?

Longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) are a diverse group of wood-boring beetles. They get their name from their long antennae, which can be as long as or longer than their bodies. Key facts:

- Lifecycle: Egg, larva (grub), pupa, and adult. The larval stage tunnels through wood, often taking months to years to develop depending on species and conditions.

- Host range: Many species specialize in hardwood trees, including native Hawaiian species like Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) and other important hardwoods.

- Signs of infestation: D-shaped exit holes in the bark, gallery tunnels beneath the bark, thinning canopies, dieback, or sudden weeping sap. In heavy infestations, branches or whole trees may die.

Why longhorn beetles threaten Ohia and Hawaii’s trees

Ohia trees are a foundational species in Hawaii’s forests, supporting biodiversity, soil health, and watershed integrity.

Longhorn beetles threaten Ohia and other trees like cacao, avocado, citrus, ulu and kukui trees in several ways:

- Direct damage: Larvae bore into heartwood and sapwood, disrupting nutrient flow and weakening structural integrity.

- Increased susceptibility: Infested trees become more vulnerable to wind, disease, and other pests.

- Spread risk: Some species are highly adaptable and can spread rapidly, especially when stressed by drought, heat, or invasive pathogens.

For Ohia, which already faces pressures from fungal pathogens and climate stress, an unchecked longhorn beetle outbreak could compound threats to survivability and forest resilience.

The non-toxic, eco-friendly PTWK solution

Protecting Hawaii’s trees requires tools that are effective, safe for people and non-target organisms, and environmentally responsible. Aloha Tree Savers application of the PTWK solution is designed with these goals in mind:

- Non-toxic formulation: Safe for humans, pets, birds, beneficial insects, and non-target wildlife when used as directed.

- Eco-friendly action: Targets beetles by suffocating young larvae and adults without persistent residues in the environment.

- Precision delivery: Designed for application to affected trees safely and suffocate beetles. Fruit remains safe to eat.

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