Horned Passalus Beetle

Decaying logs and hardwood stumps in moist, deciduous forests

Decaying wood (saproxylophagous); adults process wood by pre-chewing it with digestive enzymes and fungi to feed larvae

Subsocial beetles that live in family colonies within decaying wood, displaying biparental care for their larvae and producing squeaking sounds via stridulation for communication

Harmless to humans and structures; highly beneficial as decomposers that aid in nutrient cycling and forest wood breakdown