The level of Incidence of the coconut rhinoceros beetle,Oryctes rhinocerosL. and the damage caused to the coconut palms by them in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were studied. The Andaman Group recorded an average of 61–9% beetle incidence, 53.1% and 52.1% frond and crown damage, respectively. The Nicobar Group registered 37.6% beetle incidence, 17.2% and 21.4% frond and crown damage, respectively. A high and significant correlation was found between the beetle population and average annual rainfall (r = 0.876,P <0.001). The other major climatic and non‐climatic factors that contribute to the high level incidence of the beetles and the palm damage in the islands are reported here.