A destructive palm-killing beetle has been found for the first time in the Puna district, and that's bad news for Hawaii Island's trees.

• A live male coconut rhinoceros beetle was discovered in Kurtistown, marking the first confirmed find in the Puna district.
• The beetle bores into and kills palm and other trees, and it had only been seen in West Hawaii until now, starting about three years ago.
• Biosecurity officers are treating this as a high-alert situation and are searching the area for more beetles or signs of breeding.
• Finding the pest in a new district raises fears it's spreading across the island instead of staying contained.

Outlook: Expect expanded trapping and inspection efforts around Kurtistown as officials try to confirm whether a breeding population has taken hold.