Huhu beetle

Forests and Woodlands, Rotting and Decaying Matter

The larvae of huhu beetle typically dwell in dead or dying wood, particularly in the trunks and branches of native hardwood species. Searching for these grubs involves looking for signs of infestation, like boreholes or frass around damaged trees. The pupae form within the same woody materials, using a pupal chamber to undergo their transformation. Locating them might require splitting the infested wood. Adult huhu beetle prefer the canopy of mature forests, where they mate and lay eggs. To observe adult huhu beetle, nighttime is best when they are active and can be attracted to light sources or tracked down through their characteristic mating calls.

Adult huhu beetle are typically most active and easiest to find from late spring to mid-summer. Larval stages may be found year-round within their host trees but are more likely to be active and closer to the surface during warmer months.

Warm, dry evenings are ideal for finding adult huhu beetle, as they are more active in such conditions. Larvae are less sensitive to weather, but warmer temperatures can increase their activity levels within the wood.