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Oryctes gnu
Oryctes gnu, commonly known as Malaysian rhinoceros beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (family: Scarabaeidae) in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. It is a large (usually > 50 mm), brown to black and broadly-built species, with similarities to the smaller (usually < 50 mm) coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). Apart from the difference in size, both species can be easily separated by the shape of the pronotum. In O. gnu the depression (concavity) on the pronotum is larger with 3 knobs or tubercles at its hind margin. O. rhinoceros has only 2 knobs. Unlike O. rhinoceros, a well known pest of coconut palms, O. gnu is uncommon and has been rarely cited as an agricultural pest.
Article summary
Oryctes gnu, commonly known as Malaysian rhinoceros beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (family: Scarabaeidae) in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. It is a large (usually > 50 mm), brown to black and broadly-built species, with similarities to the smaller (usually < 50 mm) coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros). Apart from the difference in size, both species can be easily separated by the shape of the pronotum. In O. gnu the depression (concavity) on the pronotum is larger with 3 knobs or tubercles at its hind margin. O. rhinoceros has only 2 knobs. Unlike O. rhinoceros, a well known pest of coconut palms, O. gnu is uncommon and has been rarely cited as an agricultural pest.
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Discussion questions
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