Bess Beetle
Alternative name/s:
Peg Beetles, Betsy Beetles, Patent Leather Beetles, Horn Beetles
Peg Beetles, Betsy Beetles, Patent Leather Beetles, Horn Beetles
Click to enlarge image
Bess Beetle, genus Mastachilus
Image: David Gray
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
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Classification
- Family
- Passalidae
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Number of Species
- 30
-
- Size Range
- 2 cm - 4 cm
Introduction
There are around 30 different species of bess beetles in Australia, and about five occur in the Sydney area.
Habitat
Bess beetles are commonly found in rotting logs, usually in a small colony made up of a number of adults and larvae.
Distribution
Bess beetles are found in eastern Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The adult bess beetles prepare the food for the larvae by chewing the wood into a soft pulp, which the larvae can eat.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Adults are commonly attracted to lights. When handled or threatened, bess beetles rub parts of their body together to produce a rasping sound. Most bess beetle species have tiny mites attached to them that are probably parasitic.
