Rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) (Figure 1) is a major pest of the oil palm, causing 25% of crop losses two years after infestation (Norman et al., 1997). The Oryctes nudivirus (OrNV) (Figure 2) is a biological control agent of the rhinoceros beetle (Huger, 1966). The OrNV was discovered in Malaysia and introduced into many coconut and oil palm producing countries to control the rhinoceros beetle (Bedford, 2014).

Researcher: Dr Ramle Moslim
Email: ramle@mpob.gov.my