ECOLOGY
Odontotaenius disjunctus, commonly known as bess beetles or horned passalus beetles, are a primitive ancestor of stag beetles in the family Passalidae and is the only representatives of the genus in Canada. Reaching a maximum length of 40 mm, this species has a recorded adult lifespan of over 3 years in captivity.
Native to the sandy soils of Eastern North America, Odontotaenius disjunctus lare an elusive, communal species unique in the insect kingdom. Adults exhibit parental care and will raise and care for their offspring within their colony. Adults and larvae are capable of producing over 12 unique sounds used to communicate amongst their colony. Larvae take 3 months to develop inside / beneath decaying logs of various species of hardwood trees including Oak and Maple. Odontotaenius disjunctus is nocturnal and can uncommonly be found from dusk until midnight on warm summer nights.
Females deposit between 30 - 50 eggs which upon hatching will burrow and feed within the rotten wood. Larvae are not cannibalistic, and grow communally as they consume the rotten heartwood. Larvae are known to stridulate, producing a characteristic chirping sound. It is speculated this tactic is used to identify themselves as being of the same species. The larvae of Odontotaenius disjunctus undergo three larval instars before constructing horizontally oriented, elliptical pupal chambers constructed in the substrate or within their host log. In nature, offspring of this species will remain with their parents and siblings in a colony, until the log has been depleted upon which time adults will disperse to find new suitable breeding habitats.
Adults are terrestrial in the wild, but will climb if given the opportunity. As such, this species will greatly benefit from a well designed terrestrial vivarium.
CARE
In captivity, Odontotaenius disjunctus can be kept communally in groups. Humidity should be maintained above 70 % at all times which can be achieved by ensuring a moist but never damp substrate. Substrate should contain a majority % crumbled hardwood / flake soil / top soil with hardwods logs firmly placed on the surface. We seed our Bioactive terrariums with springtails ( Folsomia candida ) and provide an additional layer of dried Oak leaves and bark.
FEEDING
In captivity, both adult and larvae of Odontotaenius disjunctus consume rotten hardwoods as their source of food.
BREEDING
Breeding Odontotaenius disjunctus in captivity is best suited for a more advanced hobbyist. Substrate should contain a large percentage organic hardwood based substrate, with large rotten logs placed upon the surface.
SPECIES : ODONTOTAENIUS DISJUNCTUS COMMON NAME : HORNED PASSALUS BEETLE
LIFESPAN : ★★★★★ COMMUNAL : ★★★★★
BREEDING DIFFICULTY : ★★★★★
EASE OF ADULT CARE : ★★★★★
