Brown Prionid

Natural Habitat

Forests, woodlands, and suburban areas where host trees are present. Larvae develop in decaying wood underground or at the base of trees.

Diet & Feeding

Adults typically do not feed. Larvae feed on dead and decaying wood, primarily the roots and lower trunks of various trees.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. Larvae bore into dead or dying wood for several years before pupating and emerging as adults.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered neutral or beneficial in the ecosystem as decomposers of dead wood. However, very occasionally, large larval populations can damage timber or stressed trees. They are not harmful to humans.

Identified on: 8/28/2025