CRB Defense Hawaii

Protect Your Palms from the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle closeup
Palm trees killed by CRB

The CRB Threat

The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) is devastating palm trees across Hawaii. This invasive beetle bores into the crowns of palms, destroying new fronds, weakening the tree, and eventually killing it. Without protection, most coconut and palm trees in infested areas will die.

CRB Defense Wax Cups were developed to give tree owners a practical, natural way to protect their palms. By placing essential-oil-infused beeswax in the frond crevices where CRB enters, each tree gets months of continuous protection from a single application.

“I’ve been in the CRB trenches for years and nothing has stopped the beetles like these wax cups.”

— Eli, Oahu Green Tree Trimmers
CRB Defense Wax Cups — finished product
CRB Defense Wax Cups — ready to apply
CRB Defense Wax Cup ingredients and materials
Ingredients and materials

CRB Defense Wax Cups

Natural Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Repellent. Designed for slow release of CRB-deterrent essential oils. U.S. Patent Pending.

Active Ingredients: Clove Oil (Eugenol), Cedarwood Oil (Cedrol-rich), Thyme Oil (Thymol)

Other Ingredients: Beeswax, Mineral Oil, Zinc Oxide (UV blocker), and Vit E (antioxidant)

How They Work: Research has shown that certain essential oils repel and can kill CRB — but oils applied directly to trees evaporate within a week or two. CRB Defense Wax Cups embed the oils in soft beeswax that releases them slowly for months, right in the crevices between fronds and trunk where CRB enter the tree. Read the full story on our How It Works page.

Application: 10 to 20 wax cups per tree, depending on tree type and size. The wax stays in place through sun and rain, protecting the entry points between trimmings. Replace every 3 months for continuous protection.

Directions for Use

  1. Ideally, trim the tree of all fruit and flowers before application.
  2. Push the wax out of the cup by squeezing the sides.
  3. Smush the wax into the crevice where each frond meets the trunk.
  4. Replace every 3 months for best results.
  5. For best results, combine with other deterrents such as netting and management of CRB breeding material.

Applying Wax Cups

Wax cups being applied to tree in Lanikai
Details on Applying Wax Cups

Order CRB Defense Wax Cups

CRB Defense Wax Cups

CRB Defense Wax Cups
Bag of 15 cups — $35.00

Shipping to Hawaii addresses is $10 per box (5 bags per box). Or pick up in Lanikai — no shipping fee.

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Tree Trimmers Who Can Help

Here is contact information for tree trimmers who can help deploy protective measures for your trees. Tree trimmers, please contact us to get on this list.