
Community identification
Horned Passalus Beetle
Odontotaenius disjunctus
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera, Passalidae
- Size
- 30 to 40 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Decaying hardwood logs and forest floors.
Diet & Feeding
Wood-decaying fungi and rotting logs, processed by both adults and larvae.
Behavior Patterns
Highly social beetles that live in family colonies and communicate via stridulation. Adults actively care for and feed their larvae.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans and beneficial as primary decomposers that accelerate nutrient recycling in forest ecosystems.