Hardwood Stump Borer
Mallodon dasystomus
The massive grubs of this species can live and tunnel inside a single log for up to three years before emerging as adults.
- Scientific name
- Mallodon dasystomus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Cerambycidae › Mallodon
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Hardwood forests, woodlands, and orchards containing dead or dying deciduous trees.
- Diet
- Larvae feed on dead and decaying hardwood; adults feed minimally on tree sap.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Caribbean
- Size
- 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) in length
- Lifespan
- 2-3 years (mostly in larval stage; adults live only a few weeks)
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Removal of dead wood and snags from forests, and widespread pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- This beetle is harmless to humans but possesses powerful mandibles that can deliver a painful pinch if handled carelessly. Observe them safely without picking them up. If bitten, wash the area with soap and water to prevent secondary infection; they are non-venomous.
Mallodon dasystomus , the hardwood stump borer , is a species of long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.
Photo: Dan Vickers, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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