September 2005. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Section, Maldives, found a beetle on an ornamental palm at the airport nursery. The beetle is about 1 cm in length (slightly shorter than the coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima). The larvae and the damage caused to the unopened leaves is very similar to that caused by B longissima.

It may be new or it may also be Plesispa reichi. Plesispa is slightly shorter than Brontispa. However, colours are very varied in both species. Suggested that Dr Peter Ooi, FAO RAPA or Dr Singh of the APPPC be contacted to help with the identification.