# Gnathotrichus retusus

The Gnathotrichus retusus is a tiny beetle that loves to live in wood. It has a unique shape and can be found munching on tree bark, helping to break down old wood.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Gnathotrichus retusus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gnathotrichus_retusus.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mark Richman, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gnathotrichus_retusus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Gnathotrichus retusus is a small, cylindrical beetle, typically reddish-brown to dark brown or black. It has a rounded rear end and its head is partially hidden by its pronotum, appearing very smooth.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Curculionidae
- **Genus:** Gnathotrichus

## Interesting facts

- Female beetles are the architects, building nurseries for their young.
- These tiny beetles carry their own fungus food in special pockets!
- They dig intricate tunnels that look like tiny highways inside trees!
- They help decompose dead trees, returning nutrients to the forest floor!

## Special abilities

- **Fungus Farmer:** Gnathotrichus retusus cultivates special 'ambrosia' fungi inside tree tunnels, which they eat and feed to their young.
- **Wood Borer:** Gnathotrichus retusus can bore intricate, branching tunnels deep into the wood of trees to create homes and food farms.
- **Scent Seeker:** Gnathotrichus retusus can detect chemical signals from stressed or recently cut trees, helping them find new homes.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 2-3.5 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 2-20

## Diet & Feeding

These beetles and their young eat a special fungus they grow inside tree tunnels.

- **Age differences:** Larvae eat fungus grown by adults, adults also feed on fungus.
- **Primary Foods:** ambrosia fungi, sapwood (for fungus), heartwood (for fungus)
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Ponderosa Pine (*Pinus ponderosa*) — Provides wood for tunnels and fungus farms.
- **Depends on:** Douglas-fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) — Offers habitat for beetle colonies and fungus.
- **Symbiotic with:** Ambrosia Fungus (*Ambrosiella gnathotrichi*) — The beetle cultivates and eats this specific fungus.
- **Eaten by:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Woodpeckers hunt beetles hidden in tree bark.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

These beetles are harmless, but it's best to observe them without touching.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Gnathotrichus retusus?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Gnathotrichus retusus?

2-3.5 mm

### How long does Gnathotrichus retusus live?

30-90 days

### What does Gnathotrichus retusus eat?

These beetles and their young eat a special fungus they grow inside tree tunnels.

### Where is Gnathotrichus retusus usually found?

Forests

### How does Gnathotrichus retusus hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Gnathotrichus retusus have?

6

### How large are Gnathotrichus retusus colonies?

2-20

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Gnathotrichus retusus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gnathotrichus-retusus)