Oryctes monoceros, commonly known as African rhinoceros beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (family: Scarabaeidae) which is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Its distribution extends from Senegal and Chad in the North to South Africa in the South and includes the islands of Madagascar, Seychelles and Réunion in the East. O. monoceros is similar in size (~ 4 cm long) and biology to O. rhinoceros found in tropical parts of Asia and the Pacific. Both species are serious pests of coconut and oil palms and attack these by boring into the crown of the palms and feeding on the young developing fronds. Taxonomically, O. monoceros and O.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of African Rhinoceros Beetle being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Scarabaeidae
- Genus
- Oryctes
- Species
- Oryctes monoceros
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