Thorictus
''Thorictus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, containing the following species: g
* ''
Thylodrias''
Motschulsky, 1839 i c g b
* ''
Trichodryas
''Trichodryas esoterica'' is a species of 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 othe ...
''
Lawrence & Slipinski, 2005 g
* ''
Trinodes
''Trinodes'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. The genus is distributed in the Palearctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical realms. There are about 16 species.Háva, J. & Prokop, J. (2006)''Trinodes puetzi'' sp. nov., ...
''
Dejean, 1821 g
* ''
Trogoderma
''Trogoderma'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. There are about 135 species worldwide.
Some species are serious pests of stored animal and plant products.Wei, C., et al. (2015)Scanning electron microscope o ...
''
Dejean, 1821 i c g b
* ''
Tryoniopsis''
Tillyard, 1923 g
* ''
Zahradnikia''
Háva, 2013 g
* ''
Zhantievus
''Zhantievus lymantriae'' is a species of beetle in the family Dermestidae
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles ...
''
Beal, 1992 g
Data sources: i = ITIS,[ c = Catalogue of Life,][ g = GBIF,][ b = Bugguide.net]
Larder beetles
The larva of the larder beetle ''
Dermestes lardarius'' is longer than the adult and is covered in reddish brown or black setae. It has two back-curved, spine-like appendages on the
posterior
Posterior may refer to:
* Posterior (anatomy), the end of an organism opposite to its head
** Buttocks, as a euphemism
* Posterior horn (disambiguation)
* Posterior probability, the conditional probability that is assigned when the relevant evidenc ...
end. The larva of the black larder beetle has less strongly curved appendages.
Mature larvae of both species tend to bore into hard substrates such as wood,
cork
Cork or CORK may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
***Wine cork
Places Ireland
* Cork (city)
** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
, and plaster to
pupa
A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...
te.
[Lyon, W. F]
Hide and Larder Beetles
Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.
Larder beetles are infrequent household pests.
. Pest Solutions Plus. Adults and larvae feed on raw skins and hides. Adult larder beetles are generally 1/3 to 3/8 of an inch long and are dark brown with a broad, pale yellow spotted band across the upper portion of the
elytra
An elytron (; ; , ) 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 (sometimes altern ...
. There are three black dots arranged in a triangle shape on each wing. The
sternum
The sternum or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs via cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury. ...
and legs of the larder beetle are covered in fine, yellow setae. Adult larder beetles are typically found outdoors in protected areas during the winter, but during the spring and early summer they enter buildings. Females lay approximately 135 eggs near a food source, and the eggs will hatch in about 12 days. The life cycle of larder beetles lasts around 40 to 50 days.
The black larder or incinerator beetle, ''
Dermestes ater
''Dermestes ater'' is a species of beetle in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. It is known commonly as the black larder beetle or incinerator beetle (not to be confused with ''Dermestes haemorrhoidalis'', the African larder beetle, also s ...
'', is completely dark with scattered yellow setae on the body. It is similar to ''
Dermestes maculatus
''Dermestes maculatus'' is a species of beetle with a worldwide distribution, being present on all continents except Antarctica. In Europe, it is present in all countries.
Description
The adult beetle is 5.5-10 mm long, and black with a band of ...
'' but lacks serrations on its elytra. Its ventral surface is yellow instead of white. This beetle is a pest of fish, mushrooms, and cheese.
[Genus Dermestes](_blank)
BugGuide.
Hide beetle (leather beetle)
''
Dermestes maculatus
''Dermestes maculatus'' is a species of beetle with a worldwide distribution, being present on all continents except Antarctica. In Europe, it is present in all countries.
Description
The adult beetle is 5.5-10 mm long, and black with a band of ...
'', known as the hide beetle, leather beetle, or skin beetle, feeds on raw skins and hides like the larder beetle.
This species is similar in appearance to the larder beetle, with larvae covered in short and long reddish brown or black setae, but its two spine-like posterior appendages curve forward.
Also, in adults, the forewings are dark brown and the sternum is mostly white with some black.
Its life cycle is 60 to 70 days and the female can lay up to 800 eggs.
The hide and larder beetles both feed on an assortment of animal protein based products and cause serious damage in the areas of silkworm production and museums.
Carpet beetle
Carpet beetle larvae start to feed as soon as they hatch. They are carrot shaped and heavily covered with setae, especially on their posterior end. The number of
instars
An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or ass ...
typically ranges from five to 11 and in some cases may reach as high as 20. Larvae of the black carpet beetle ''Attagenus megatoma'' may grow up to 1/2 inch (12 mm) and be yellow to brown in color. Other types of carpet beetle are regularly 1/4 to 1 inch (6 to 25 mm) long and covered with dark setae. Certain species have distinctive tufts of setae extending from their posterior end. These beetles are attracted to soiled fabrics and crevices where dead insects may serve as a food source.
[Lyon, William F]
Carpet Beetle
Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. The larvae of the carpet beetle are often referred to as "woolly bears" or "buffalo moths".
Black carpet beetle
The
black carpet beetle
The black carpet beetle (''Attagenus unicolor'') is a beetle that can be a serious household pest. The larvae grow to in length, are reddish brown in colour and covered with bristles. The larval form feeds on natural fibres, damaging carpets, f ...
, ''Attagenus megatoma'', is a widely known stored product pest and one of the most destructive because of its potential damage to household products containing
keratin
Keratin () is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as ''scleroproteins''. Alpha-keratin (α-keratin) is a type of keratin found in vertebrates. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, ...
, which is a protein found in animal hair and feathers.
They are also able to burrow through various types of food packaging, allowing passage for other insects.
Females can lay up to 90 eggs and they hatch in about 8 to 15 days. Generally, this species only has one generation a year.
The time it takes to become an adult varies from six months to a year. In addition, an adult black carpet beetle can live for an additional two months.
[Exploring California Insects: Carpet or Museum Beetles](_blank)
. The average adult size is about 2.8 to 5 mm long and they are oval, dark brown to shiny-black in color, and have brown legs.
Varied carpet beetle
The
varied carpet beetle
The varied carpet beetle (''Anthrenus verbasci'') is a 3 mm-long beetle belonging to the family Dermestidae. They are a common species, often considered a pest of domestic houses and, particularly, natural history museums, where the larvae m ...
, ''Anthrenus verbasci'', attacks typical household objects. Carpet beetles are normally associated with things such as carpets, wool, furs, and any processed animal or plant food. Their appetite also includes dead insects, spiders, and even nectar and pollen. They are typically found throughout the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...
. Females can lay up to 40 eggs and the number of larval instars is seven or eight. The time it takes to become an adult varies from about eight months to a year. In addition, the adults can live around 2 to 6 weeks. This species varies in shape, size, color, and pattern of scales. On average, the adults are 2 to 3 mm in length and have scales that vary from white, brown, yellow, or even gray-yellow.
The hairs of the larvae can cause allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis or blisters in humans who come into contact with the sharp tiny hairs.
Khapra beetle
On hatching, the larvae of
khapra beetle
The khapra beetle (''Trogoderma granarium''), also called cabinet beetle, which originated in South Asia, is one of the world's most destructive pests of grain products and seeds. (''Trogoderma granarium'') are around 1.6 to 1.8 mm long and mostly covered with dense setae, some simple and some barbed. Larvae are yellow-white but the head and body setae are brown. As the larvae further develop, their color changes to a golden or reddish brown and the abdomen portion becomes proportionally shorter. The mature larvae reach a maximum length of 6 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.
[Harris, D.L. (2006]
Khapra Beetle
University of Florida IFAS Extension.
The khapra beetle is a stored-product pest. Infestations are difficult to control because they crawl into cracks and crevices, remaining for long periods of time.
They tend to infest grains and create serious losses to stored products.
The adults are covered with setae and are approximately 1.5 to 3 mm long and 1 to 2 mm wide. Male khapra beetles are brown to black with reddish brown markings on the elytra. Females are slightly larger and are lighter in color. The short, 11 segmented antennae has a club of 3 to 5 segments, which fit into a groove on the side of 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) o ...
.
Control
Hide and larder beetles
Modern methods of meat slaughtering, storage, and distribution have reduced potential infestations of hide beetles. Proper housekeeping is crucial for the prevention of infestations. Dead insects in homes usually attract these beetles because they are a prime food source for hide and larder beetles. Food must be tightly sealed or stored in a refrigerator to avoid any beetle access. Freezing food for a week or heating meat in a pan or microwave for prolonged lengths can kill insects found in infested foods and prevent them from spreading.
Household fibers, such as wool and silk, are especially prone to moth damage and special cleaning, which includes moth proofing, needs to be done frequently. Application of
insecticides
Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed t ...
must be by spot treatment to crack and crevice sites where they are suspected of hiding.
Pyrethrin
The pyrethrins are a class of organic compounds normally derived from ''Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium'' that have potent insecticidal activity by targeting the nervous systems of insects. Pyrethrin naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers and is ...
s are labeled for use against hide beetles. Insecticides used for carpet beetles are also appropriate to use against hide and larder beetles.
Carpet beetles
Regular cleaning of spilled food or lint will eliminate any sites for potential breeding. Susceptible items like food,
woolens
Woolen (American English) or woollen (Commonwealth English) is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn. Woolen yarn is in contrast t ...
, and furs should be stored in an insect-proof container. If an infestation is suspected then the source of the problem must be removed and destroyed to further limit any possibility of spreading. These beetles can be killed with extreme heat or exposure to freezers.
[Cranshaw, W.S. (2000)]
Carpet Beetles
Colorado University State-Extension.
Pyrethroid
A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural pyrethrins, which are produced by the flowers of pyrethrums (''Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium'' and '' C. coccineum''). Pyrethroids are used as commercial and household insecticides.
In ...
insecticides can be used to control carpet beetles. These contain active ingredients such as
permethrin
Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide. As a medication, it is used to treat scabies and lice. It is applied to the skin as a cream or lotion. As an insecticide, it can be sprayed onto clothing or mosquito nets to kill the insects tha ...
,
bifenthrin
Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide. It is widely used against ant infestations.
It is not a restricted chemical in the United States and is commonly sold in hardware stores to control pests in homes.
Chemical properties
Bifenthrin is poorl ...
,
deltamethrin
Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid ester insecticide. Deltamethrin plays a key role in controlling malaria vectors, and is used in the manufacture of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets; however, resistance of mosquitos and bed bugs to deltamethrin ...
and
tralomethrin
Tralomethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide.
Tralomethrin has potent insecticidal properties; it kills by modifying the gating kinetics of the sodium channels in neurons, increasing the length of time the channel remains open after a stimulus, the ...
.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (), diatomite (), or kieselgur/kieselguhr is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that can be crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging from more than 3 μm to ...
is also effective.
Image gallery
Image:Larder beetle grub.jpg, The grub of a larder beetle (''Dermestes lardarius'')
Image:Manduca quinquemaculata dermestidae damage sjh.JPG, Dermestidae damage to a ''Manduca quinquemaculata
''Manduca quinquemaculata'', the five-spotted hawkmoth, is a brown and gray hawk moth of the family Sphingidae. The caterpillar, often referred to as the tomato hornworm, can be a major pest in gardens; they get their name from a dark projection ...
'' in an insect collection
Image:Woolly_bear.jpg, The larva of ''Anthrenus verbasci'' beetle
Image:grain_bait_wolly_bear.jpg, The larva of an ''Anthrenus verbasci'' beetle, frass
Frass refers loosely to the more or less solid excreta of insects, and to certain other related matter.
Definition and etymology
''Frass'' is an informal term and accordingly it is variously used and variously defined. It is derived from the G ...
, cast skin & a single grain of blue rodent bait damaged by the larva
Image:Sceliphron and pest.jpg, Carpet beetle damaging a ''Sceliphron destillatorius'' in an insect collection
References
Further reading
* John M. Kingsolver, "Dermestidae", in
Ross H. Arnett Jr.
Ross Harold Arnett Jr. (April 13, 1919 – July 16, 1999) was an American entomologist noted for his studies of beetles, and as founder of the '' Coleopterist's Bulletin''.
Born in Medina, New York, he was a star student at Cornell University, whe ...
and
Michael C. Thomas
Michael Charles Thomas (May 5, 1948 – October 14, 2019) was an American entomologist who co-authored the book series ''American Beetles''.
Born in Miami, Florida, Thomas graduated from the University of South Florida in 1970 with a Bachelor o ...
, ''
American Beetles
''American Beetles'' is the single most comprehensive description of the beetles of North America north of the tropical area of Mexico. It was started by Ross H. Arnett, Jr. as an update of his classic ''The Beetles of the United States''; alon ...
'' (CRC Press, 2002), vol. 2.
*
*Pasquerault, T Vincent, B, Chauvet, B, Dourel, L, and Gaudry, E (2008). Répartition des espèces du genre Dermestes L. 1758 récoltés sur des cadavres humains (Coleoptera Dermestidae). ''L'entomologiste'' Tome 64 N°4 pp 221–224.
* Hinton, H.E., 1945 ''A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products''. 1, 387–395 British Museum (Natural History), London. Keys to world adults and larvae, genera and species; excellent figures, full species information.
* Freude, H.; Harde, K.W.; Lohse, G.A., 1979 ''Dermestidae''. ''Die Käfer Mitteleuropas'' 6: Diversicornia (Lycidae — Byrrhidae) 1206 text figs. 367pp. Goecke & Evers. Text in German; the Dermestidae are on pages 304–327.
External links
Dermestidae of the WorldUSDA Leaflet on Carpet beetles*on the
UF /
IFAS IFAS may refer:
* Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
* Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge, a sewage treatment process
* International French adjectival system, a grading system used in mountaineering
* Irish Federation of Astronomical ...
Featured Creatures Web site
*
''Anthrenus flavipes'', furniture carpet beetle*
*
*
Stored Product Protection, Kansas State University
{{Taxonbar, from=Q220932
Beetle families