Gardener makes disturbing discovery inside bag of Miracle-Gro that could threaten paradise islands' ecosystem

A home gardener was appalled to discover 50 coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae in a bag of Miracle-Gro garden soil that are known to destroy plant life. 

Joe, a military veteran, had opened a bag of the nutrients-packed plant feed when he discovered the large infestation - all of which were alive. 

The tree-killing pests are known like mulch, compost and green waste. They take four to six months to develop into adult beetles.

'I've heard about it. I've seen the damage it's done,' he told WCAX as he pointed towards the white caterpillars. 

Joe, a Hawaiian gardener and military veteran was left appalled after he discovered 50 coconut rhinoceros beetles that could destroy plant life in a bag of Miracle-Gro garden soil.

Joe also revealed that he had bought the the soil bag from the Naval Exchange back in April but had unsealed it this month

Joe also revealed that he had bought the the soil bag from the Naval Exchange back in April but had unsealed it this month. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to Miracle-Gro for a comment. 

The discovery shocked the veteran even more after the Hawaii's Department of Agriculture revealed that the beetles had not been detected on the mainland before this incident. 

Joe said the department informed him that the larvae could have got into the soil once he took it home due to 'pencil-sized holes' in the bag. 

But the seasoned gardener said that air holes in his bag are far too small to be considered as 'pencil-sized'.

Native to Southeast Asia, Coconut rhinoceros beetles are one of the most damaging pests of coconut palms and could pose a threat to Hawaii’s only native and endangered palm, the Loulu

The tree-killing pests are known like mulch, compost and green waste. They take four to six months to develop into adult beetles

After the issue was reported, agriculture officials inspected the Naval Exchange's Garden Center but did not find an infestation.

'It could have been worse because had the bags at the retail location been infested and spread all over, even further into the state, that's the biggest fear we have,' Hawaii's Department of Agriculture Chairwoman Sharon Hurd said.

Native to Southeast Asia, Coconut rhinoceros beetles are one of the most damaging pests of coconut palms and could pose a threat to Hawaii’s only native and endangered palm, the Loulu. 

The insects tend to lay eggs and develop inside rotting coconut logs, mulch or compost piles. 

The larvae feeds on decaying wood and organic material for about four to six months before pupating. 

Once they reach adulthood, these beetles live between four to nine months, and are most active in the night.