Hermit Beetle Larva
Osmoderma barnabita (larva)
Lives for several years inside warm, decaying heartwood of old hollow broadleaf trees, especially oaks, limes, and willows. Feeds on soft rotten wood and fungus-rich debris, slowly carving packed galleries through the tree hollow. It stays hidden in the wood for nearly its entire juvenile life. Its presence is a strong sign of ancient, undisturbed tree habitat.
- Type
- Burrow
- Conservation status
- NT
Growth chain
- Hermit Beetle Larva
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