How strong are Bess beetles?

How strong are Bess beetles?

Fun HPB Fact #1 – Although they are fully capable of flight, these beetles prefer to hoof it (slowly) across their landscapes most of the time. Fun HBP fact #2 – HPBs are very strong – studies show that they are able to pull 50 times their own weight, and stress can make them even stronger.

How much weight can Bess beetles pull?

The bess beetle lives in damp rotten wood, which also serves as their source of food. Bess beetles can lift up to 100 times its weight. There are nearly 500 species of beetles in the family Passalidae.

What does a bess beetle do?

Bess beetles are typically considered beneficial insects because they recycle dead wood material in the forest. There is only a single species of bess beetle found in Kentucky, Odontotaenius disjunctus. It goes by several names, including the ‘patent leather beetle’, ‘horned passalus’, or simply ‘bess beetle’.

Can a bess beetle fly?

Bess beetles are classified in the insect order called Coleoptera. Coleoptera is the largest order of organisms, including over 350,000 species. When the beetle decides to fly, the hind wings unfold and do their job. At rest they tuck themselves back under the hard elytra.

How long does a Bess beetle live?

Bess beetles develop through the following stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Larvae take about one year to reach adulthood. Adults typically live for about another year.

What do Bess beetles eat?

decaying wood
Feeding. Bess beetles ingest rotting, decaying wood and moist sphagnum moss. Adults cannot extract nutrients from wood so will re-ingest their own feces as a source of microflora to break down wood fibers.

What is the size of a Bess beetle?

They are characterized by their large size, ranging between 30 and 40 mm (1.2 and 1.6 inches) in length. Because of their shiny black wing covers (elytra), they are sometimes called patent-leather beetles.

Do Bess beetles eat poop?

Bess beetles eat poop Like termites and other insects that feed on wood, bess beetles need the help of microorganisms to break down the tough plant fibers. Without these digestive symbionts, they simply couldn’t process the cellulose. Without enough frass in its diet, a bess beetle will die.

Do Bess beetles need water?

Bess beetles like moist wood, but not soaking wet. Mist your habitat with water about once a day. Let chlorinated tap water sit for 48 hours prior to misting for chlorine to dissipate. Keep the habitat at room temperature and away from direct light.

What is the average lifespan of a Bess bug?

How can you tell if a bess beetle is male or female?

On a male, there is a membrane between the sternites that houses the male copulatory organ, or the male beetle’s sexual organ. The membrane is between the sternites and is lighter than the sternites. Confirm the shape of the sternite. The visible sternite is rounded in the males and slightly pointed in the female.

What can I feed my Bess Beetle?

Feeding. Bess beetles ingest rotting, decaying wood and moist sphagnum moss. Adults cannot extract nutrients from wood so will re-ingest their own feces as a source of microflora to break down wood fibers.

What do bess beetles live in?

Bess beetles are somewhat social insects, with colonies living together in decaying stumps and logs. They prefer hardwood—oak, elm, and other deciduous trees—that is well decayed and falls apart easily. The beetles chew their way through the wood, making tunnels, or galleries, as they go.

How many sounds does a Bess Beetle make?

Like many other insects – crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas, for example – bess beetles use sounds to communicate with one another. What’s remarkable, however, is how sophisticated their language seems to be. One North American species, Odontotaenius disjunctis, produces 14 distinct sounds, presumably with different meanings.

How do you get rid of bess beetles in a tree?

Keep the bess beetles in a well-ventilated plastic container, provide them with decaying hardwood from oak, elm, or other deciduous trees (no conifers), and mist the wood and container several times a week to maintain the moisture. It may also help to keep some sphagnum moss on top of the wood to maintain the moisture.

What is the function of the fringe on a Bess Beetle?

A bess beetle has tiny, gold-colored fringe on its legs and on the edges of its body. The exact function of the fringe is unclear, although it may help keep the beetle clean. Protruding from the beetle’s head is a small horn.