# Brown Prionid

*Orthosoma brunneum*

The larvae are essential decomposers, chewing through tough cellulose and accelerating the return of nutrients to the forest floor.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Cerambycidae › Orthosoma
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Deciduous and mixed forests, especially near decomposing hardwood logs and stumps.
- **Diet:** Larvae feed on decaying wood of various deciduous trees; adults feed minimally on tree sap.
- **Range:** Eastern North America, Southeastern Canada
- **Size:** 2.5 to 5.0 cm (1 to 2 inches) in length.
- **Lifespan:** 2 to 3 years (mostly as larvae); adults live for only a few weeks.
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Deforestation, intensive forestry practices that remove dead wood, and light pollution.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless but defensive. The Brown Prionid can deliver a painful pinch with its powerful mandibles if handled or threatened. It is best to observe them without touching. If pinched, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water; medical attention is not required unless the skin is broken and shows signs of infection.

## About

Orthosoma brunneum is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae, the only species in the genus Orthosoma . The genus name Orthosoma was also used for a microsporidian genus. As it is pre-occupied by this beetle genus name, it has been changed to Orthosomella .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/72ba06cc-6b71-4135-8639-2d5613d8a72f
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143662
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthosoma brunneum
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/19695632/medium.jpg (John P Friel, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.