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| Anthrenus | |
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| Young imago of Anthrenus verbasci | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Dermestidae |
| Tribe: | Anthrenini |
| Genus: | Anthrenus Geoffroy, 1762 [1] |
| Subgenera | |
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Anthrenus is a genus of beetles in the Dermestidae family, skin beetles. One of several genera of carpet beetles, Anthrenus was historically placed in a subfamily Anthreninae, though presently included in the Megatominae. The genus Neoanthrenus is closely related.
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Anthrenus carpet beetles are small beetles a few (1.8-4mm) millimeters long with a rounded shape. Their antennae bear small clubs at the end, which are larger in the males than in females. Many have a delicate pattern, with a dark body covered in colorful scales of various brown, tan, red, whitish and grey hues. These scales rub off easily, and old individuals are often partially devoid of them, showing the shining black elytra. A considerable number of subspecies and varieties have been named, but it is questionable whether these are all valid or simply refer to such age-related differences. The massive number of species has been divided into several subgenera, but these are not too firmly established. The small subgenus Helocerus for example is sometimes entirely included in Florilinus. Also, new species are being described every now and then.[ verification needed ]
These beetles range essentially all over the world; they have even colonized some remote oceanic islands. Most species are harmless pollen-eaters, with the long-haired larvae feeding on a wide range of dead animal or plant matter. This makes them important decomposers, which clean up decaying organisms. Some, however, most notoriously, the museum beetle (A. museorum), are significant pests, infesting stored goods and especially biological specimens in museum collections. These species have caused considerable damage to biology by destroying valuable type specimens. Their larvae may cause considerable damage to wool, fur, feathers, and natural history collections. [2] Due to their larvae feeding on natural fibers they can be found laying eggs in carpets, hence the name carpet beetles.
Primarily this genus breeds in the spring and the summer months living in temperate regions. They are found worldwide due to distribution and are presumed to have arrived in North America in the 1850s. In the wild, adult carpet beetles are commonly found on flowering plants. Some species are known for occupying bird nests (such as sparrows and swallows), and bat roosts, though now more commonly as household pests. [3]
