There are almost 500 creepy crawlies -- insects, spiders, centipedes, and things like that -- on Midway. Some of them are native, but this one is not. This large, shiny, green, non-native beetle is really common right now. It's called the Midway Emerald Beetle,
Protaetia pryeri (no Hawaiian name, because it's not native! It was probably accidentally introduced from China.) The Beetle has been attacking red hibiscus flowers near my house.
If it does this to flowers, wouldn't it be awful if the Midway Emerald Beetle got to the main Hawaiian Islands? It would attack papaya, mangoes and other crops! When I go home to O`ahu, I'll check my baggage carefully!
There are almost 500 creepy crawlies -- insects, spiders, centipedes, and things like that -- on Midway. Some of them are native, but this one is not. This large, shiny, green, non-native beetle is really common right now. It's called the Midway Emerald Beetle, Protaetia pryeri (no Hawaiian name, because it's not native! It was probably accidentally introduced from China.) The Beetle has been attacking red hibiscus flowers near my house.
If it does this to flowers, wouldn't it be awful if the Midway Emerald Beetle got to the main Hawaiian Islands? It would attack papaya, mangoes and other crops! When I go home to O`ahu, I'll check my baggage carefully!
