Oryctes

Oryctes
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Scarabaeiformia
Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Dynastinae
Tribe: Oryctini
Genus: Oryctes
Hellwig, 1798

Oryctes is the economically most important genus of rhinoceros beetles in the subfamily Dynastinae (family: Scarabaeidae) and includes serious pests of palm trees. A total of 47 species have been assigned to the genus, including 2 fossil ones. The extant species are widely distributed in Africa, as well as in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. No established populations are known from the Americas. The species are typically between 30 and 60 mm long, dark brown to black, with a robust body and a strong cuticle. They can be distinguished from other genera in the tribe Oryctini by the structure of the pronotum, the horn on the head, the mouthparts and other features.

Type species: Scarabaeus nasicornis Linnaeus, 1758, a synonym of Oryctes nasicornis