There are over 500 described species, nearly all of which are tropical. It is very similar to P. punctiger. Passalid adults live in well decayed logs and stumps with their larvae and subsocial family groups. All stages are found in galleries in wood that are excavated by the adults. Adults and larvae communicate by stridulating and can produce 14 different calls.
Adults care for larvae and prepare food by chewing it and presumably mixing it with saliva.
Cranium lightly sclerotized. Antennae 2-segmented with protruding fleshy base, short. Lateral ocelli lacking. Frontoclypeal suture distinct. Abdominal segments without annuli.