Bug Identifier
Horned Passalus Beetle
Community identification

Horned Passalus Beetle

Odontotaenius disjunctus

Order & Family
Coleoptera, Passalidae
Size
30 to 40 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.