''Anthrenus (Helocerus) cechovskyi'' is a species of carpet beetle in the family

Dermestidae Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles or carpet beetles. Other common names include larder beetles, hide or leather beetles, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,800 species described. Dermestids ha ...

. It is known from Nepal.

Description

This insect has a slightly rounded, convex body, measuring between 2.1 and 2.9 mm in length. It has large oval eyes, and its head is covered in

scales Scale or scales may refer to: Mathematics * Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points * Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original * Scale factor, a number ...

of white, light-brown, and dark-brown colors. The antennae are light-brown, with males having five segments and females six; both sexes have different-sized antennal clubs. The

thorax The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of mammals and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main di ...

is dark-brown with sparse holes, decorated with scales in various colors. The

pronotum The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum (ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on e ...

shows distinct color patterns with white scales along its edges. The

elytra An elytron (; ; : elytra, ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs (Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometime ...

have irregular bands formed by mixed white and brown scales. Its legs are brown, with darker upper legs and lighter lower legs, all covered in scales. The underside of its abdomen is whitish, with segments I to V covered in scales of white, light-brown, and dark-brown colors, with darker scales more concentrated along the sides. The rear of the abdomen (

pygidium The pygidium (: pygidia) is the posterior body part or shield of crustaceans and some other arthropods, such as insects and the extinct trilobites. In groups other than insects, it contains the anus and, in females, the ovipositor. It is compos ...

), is brown and lacks distinct ridges.

Etymology

The name is a

patronym A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, ...

honoring Peter Čechovský (Czech Republic), the collector of the type specimen.

References

cechovskyi Beetles of Asia Beetles described in 2015 {{dermestidae-stub