''Passalus interstitialis'' is a

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

of the Family

Passalidae Passalidae is a family of beetles known variously as "bessbugs", "bess beetles", "betsy beetles" or "horned passalus beetles". Nearly all of the 500-odd species are tropical; species found in North America are notable for their size, ranging fro ...

, native to western North America. It was classified by

Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz Johann Friedrich Gustav von Eschscholtz (1 November 1793 – 7 May 1831)Sterling (1997) was a Baltic German physician, naturalist, and entomologist. He was one of the earliest scientific explorers of the Pacific region, making significant collect ...

in the early 19th century.

Gallery

Image:Passalus interstitialis variation sjh.jpg, Specimen collection

External links

* Passalidae Beetles of North America Insects of the United States Fauna of the Western United States Beetles described in 1829 Taxa named by Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz {{Passalidae-stub