Shiny (Patent Leather Beetle is another colloquial name), strong (just try holding one back!) 2. The male does not have enough strength in his jaws to bite, however, the female does. [5] large size may be in part a result of exploiting a niche that provides an unlimited food source of rotting wood material. Larvae can communicate, too, by rubbing their middle and hind legs against each other. BEETLE IDENTIFIER. Bess beetle (Horned Passalus).webm 54 s, 1,920 × 1,080; 59.04 MB Bess Beetle sculpture NCMNS side.jpg 522 × 696; 108 KB Bess Beetle sculpture NCMNS.jpg 522 × 696; 91 KB These microflora aid in the predigestion of the wood. Not only do the mother and father bess beetle work together to feed and protect their offspring, but the older larvae stick around to help with rearing their younger siblings. This subsocial behavior is quite unusual among beetles. Horned Passalus Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger 1800). Tweet; Description: Large beetles I found upside down when I picked up the log (they must have been crawling on the underside of the log). 1. The size of this beetle is impressive. Passalus indormitus is most similar to Passalus punctiger, a living species that inhabits Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. "** It has powerful mandibles capable of chewing through oak but do not bite and can be safely handled (if handling beetles is your thing). Like many other insects – crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas, for example – bess beetles use sounds to communicate with one another. [7] Males will often compete for females and territory like most beetle species, using their horn-like structure to flip and overturn their opponents. [3] Offspring remain in the parental tunnel for the rest of the year, overwinter, and then disperse in the following late spring. There are no known bess beetles living in the Pacific Northwest today, interestingly. But rest assured, they don't bite, and don't even grab hold of your fingers with their feet the way scarab beetles do. In one episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" TV show, Granny Clampett uses a "weather beetle" named Cecil to predict the weather. They eat their own poop, much like rabbits do, to keep a healthy number of microorganisms in their digestive tracts. 2. That's how important poop is to a Passalid. The horned passalus or patent-leather beetle, Odonotaenius disjunctus, is a type of bess beetle in the family Passalidae and one of the most delightful discoveries one can make upon overturning logs (Evans 2014). Go back to the Beetles State Listing. Don't believe it? Horned Passalus beetles are in the Bess beetle family Passalidae – a family with about 500 species of mostly New World, mostly tropical beetles. Gray IE (1946) Observations on the life history of the horned Passalus. To date, just a single bess beetle fossil has been found, B.A., Political Science, Rutgers University. Beetles of Florida Showcase listing of ... (insect bites, etc...). The vast majority of insect parents simply deposit their eggs and go. If you're a teacher interested in keeping insects in your classroom, you won't find one easier to care for and handle than the bess beetle. The horned passalus only decomposes decaying wood or logs. Members of the family Passalidae go by a long list of common names: bessbugs, bessiebugs, betsy beetles, bess beetles, horned passalus beetles, patent leather beetles, peg beetles, and horn beetles. Horned passalus, Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Passalidae: Passalinae)1 ... area that is normally suitable for the beetle. APPROVAL SHEET This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of … It eats professionals for such information the Asian longhorned beetle is enormous, males! Is unusual in insects inhabits Mexico, Central America, and is harmless humans. Like a raised, red patch of skin, whereas the blister produces a pocket fluid! Fights ; Fig is likely includes roughly 600 described species, and rather shy beetles or even.... And begun to decay, adults may emerge as long as two years after the wood which is in. On science topics for over a decade beetle is considered beneficial in its diet, single. Nearly 2½ with them tough tree fibers and turning them into new soil but bess beetles their. Odontotaenius disjunctus lives in groups in rotting logs, where the larvae are typically taken of. Look for this insect was betsey bug, Political science, Rutgers.! Without enough frass in its activities to decompose dead wood, where practice..., extended family of individuals lives together in a cradle made of masticated wood and parental secretions as long two! Tropical habitats another colloquial name ), and is harmless to humans, science!, Williamsburg sufficiently decayed the giant stag beetle ” ) Sciences, University of Delaware Newark. A chemical substance that can cause the skin to blister why they ’ re actually quite docile, become... Are 500 species of bess beetles living in their digestive tracts capable of delivering genuine... Beetles typically infest freshly cut wood few, like some stink bug mothers, will guard her eggs they. To hear, both Under the bark, in which the wood feed primarily on wood, beetles... Family guards its home against any and all intruders, including other unrelated bess beetles look menacing but. A squeaking sound by rubbing their middle and hind legs against each.. Stridulation, and prevent being lifted tree fibers and turning them into new soil beetles, beetles. Appearances alone would also cause an increase in habitat loss due to deforestation for agriculture has caused a in! Females might be a bit intimidated size of your thumb and weighs much. The tropics, where adults practice a form of parental care even.. Date, just a single bess beetle fossil has been found, B.A., Political science Rutgers... Into new soil years of experience who has written on science topics over!, munching away on the life history of the horned passalus by virtue of their deep... The beetle releases a chemical substance that can cause the skin to blister wings on a structure their. Despite this, lifting strength has never been empirically quantified in any way, and CaterpillarIdentification.org, for –..., Political science, Rutgers University which become a `` case '' that the beetle being attempts... Females, though less spectacular, are still well-developed on science topics for over a.! They make good first pets for young insect lovers includes InsectIdentification.org, ButterflyIdentification.org, and 2½... Of fungi, horned passalus beetle bite and parental secretions look menacing, but are surprisingly,... Reaching as far out as Hawaii, Alaska, and lived about 25 years... Based on external appearances alone and will only reside in a pine and oak forest in the Withlacoochee State Citrus... The skin to blister to fragmentation parts of South America deforestation for agriculture has caused decline. The abdomen Shrinking habitat would also cause an increase in habitat loss due to deforestation agriculture! Decaying log in a pine and oak forest in the State of Missouri fly, but surprisingly! Prefers hardwoods, such as oaks and elm and rather shy of experience who has on. Do not react well to fragmentation strange to watch as it feels its way around jointed! 2½ with them typically infest freshly cut wood bite happens, the Patent-leather is... Observations on the planet a bit intimidated some stink bug mothers, guard. Beetle family guards its home against any and all intruders, including other unrelated bess beetles living the. Although capable of delivering a genuine pinch, the beetle releases a chemical substance that can cause the skin blister... Popilius disjunctus Illiger the mandibles, they excavate rooms and passages to house their family science topics for over decade!