Malaita province

The public broadcaster reported the beetle was sighted last year by farmers who feared the pest would kill coconut plantations and set back copra production.

A spokesman for the Ward Eight Farmers Association Samson Eric Lifuasi said authorities needed to support control measures and to formulate a plan to stop the beetle spreading to other provinces.

Last year, the Australian company Kokonut Pacific reported a renewed infestation of rhinoceros beetle in the Solomons was killing large palm trees.

Both of the men were on remand - one for murder and rape charges and the other for minor criminal offences.

The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast confirmed both escapees were recaptured today by RSIPF officers from Auki.

Mr Prendergast said both had injured themselves during the escape, one quite seriously and police were evacuating him to the National Referral Hospital in the capital for treatment.

He said the other escapee was also going to be transferred to Honiara and an investigation into the circumstances of the escape is continuing.