[5] O. monoceros is similar in size (~ 4 cm long) and biology to O. rhinoceros found in tropical parts of Asia and the Pacific.

[6] Taxonomically, O. monoceros and O. rhinoceros belong to different subgenera of Oryctes, the main differences between both species are: Oryctes monoceros (subgenus Rykanoryctes) has 3 immovable spikes at the tip of the hindtibia and on average males have a shorter horn than O. rhinoceros which is more strongly curved backwards.

Oryctes rhinoceros (subgenus Rykanes) has 2 immovable spikes at the tip of the hindtibia and on average males have a longer horn than in O. monoceros which is only slightly curved backwards.

[1][5] It is especially common in tropical western Africa like the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

[5][2][7] Ecological studies suggested that the highest environmental suitability for O. monoceros is found in the coastal areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

[8] Oryctes monoceros adults are around 4 cm long with a dark reddish brown to black colouration.

[7] O. monoceros belongs to the subgenus Rykanoryctes which is characterized by the end of the hindtibia having three fixed (immovable) spikes (prongs), It can be distinguished from other African species of this subgenus by:[5] The size, life cycle, host plants and status as an agricultural pest of O. monoceros are similar to that of Oryctes rhinoceros in the Asia/Pacific region.

These include the burning of potential breeding sites, the use of insecticides, trapping the beetles with attractants, barriers to protect the palms from attacks, attempts to introduce a virus disease and the use of the vine Pueraria javanica to overgrow the trunks of the felled forest trees and hide them from the beetles.

[13][14][19] In the Ivory Coast, the use of the vine Pueraria javanica was found to be the most effective control method and easier to implement compared to burning the trunks of felled trees and removing their stumps.

In the tropics, this vine quickly overgrows the trunks, hiding them from Oryctes monoceros and repelling beetles searching for breeding sites.

[20] In West Africa, trapping with this chemical could reduce attacks on coconut palms by O. monoceros, but not prevent them completely.