This beetle doesn't feed on the wood itself — it eats the fungi growing inside it. Those fungi slowly break down the dead wood and make it nutrient-rich for the beetle.

By breaking down dead wood alongside fungi, the beetle releases important nutrients back into the soil. This keeps the campus ecosystem in balance and supports other plants and animals.

A fallen tree may look like waste, but it's actually a new beginning. TU/e deliberately leaves it in place because it provides a home for thousands of organisms — from insects to fungi to birds in search of food.