Anthrenus flavipes

Last updated

Anthrenus flavipes
Anthrenus flavipes larvae adult wool.jpg
larvae and adult
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Genus: Anthrenus
Species:
A. flavipes
Binomial name
Anthrenus flavipes
(LeConte, 1854)

Anthrenus flavipes is a species of beetle in the family Dermestidae known by the common name furniture carpet beetle. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring throughout the world, being most active in warmer climates. [1] It is a pest that damages household materials such as textiles.

Contents

Anthrenus flavipes ssp. flavipes Anthrenus flavipes flavipes LeConte, 1854.png
Anthrenus flavipes ssp. flavipes
Anthrenus flavipes var. seminiveus NHMUK014092675 Anthrenus s.str. flavipes var. seminiveus Casey whole dorsal X 2.5.jpg
Anthrenus flavipes var. seminiveus

Description

This beetle is 2 to 3.5 millimeters long and round in shape. It is black with variable patterns of white and yellow mottling. The legs are covered in yellow scales. It looks similar to other carpet beetles, but its tiny body scales are rounded or oval, while those of other carpet beetles are longer and narrower. [1] Each antenna is tipped with a club. [2]

During its adult lifespan of 30 to 60 days, the female beetle lays up to 100 white eggs. The eggs are visible but less than one millimeter long. The larvae emerge in one to three weeks. The larva is oval [1] or "carrot-shaped" [3] and about 5 millimeters long at its final stage. It varies in color according to diet and it is coated in long, brown hairs. The larva of this species can be distinguished from that of its relative, the common carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae), by the presence of a bundle of hairs on the posterior end which is constantly vibrating. [1] This bundle, located just above the anus, is called the supra-anal organ. All instar stages of the larva have the organ, and there is a specific number of hairs in it at each instar. The vibration of the organ is an antipredator adaptation that helps to repel predators such as pseudoscorpions (Chelifer sp.) and the parasitoid wasp Laelius pedatus . [4]

After progressing through six to thirty [2] instars over 2 to 3 months, the larva pupates for 2 or 3 weeks. [1]

Biology

Damage to cloth Anthrenus flavipes damage to cloth.jpg
Damage to cloth

Reproduction

Sexual behavior includes a "characteristic headstand posture" assumed by the female beetle when she releases her sex pheromone, which has been identified as (Z)-3-decenoic acid. [5]

Diet and impacts

This beetle is more common in warm regions, but it can inhabit heated buildings in cooler areas. The adult beetle feeds on pollen and nectar, often from plants of the parsley family. [2] The larva is responsible for the damage that makes the species notorious. It can digest keratin, and its diet is made up largely of a variety of animal tissues and products constructed from them. It feeds on hair and fur, horns, silk, [1] wool, bristles, feathers, [3] skin, bone, [2] and tortoise shell. [6] In nature, carpet beetles live and feed in the nests of birds, rodents, insects, and spiders. [3] This species also readily attacks plant-based and synthetic materials if they have animal fibers integrated into them [3] or are stained with blood, [2] feces, or animal-derived oils. [1] It does significant damage to upholstered furniture, carpets, and fabrics of cotton, linen, rayon, and jute. [1]

It is also a pest of museums and collections when it attacks biological specimens such as dried insects [1] and taxidermy. [2] In libraries and archives it consumes materials derived from leather and skins, such as book bindings and parchment. [2]

The larva has also been noted to feed on mold, dry cheese, and casein, and it can damage wood and cardboard. [6]

Management

Infestations in the home can be identified by the presence of larvae, their molted cuticula, and their damage, which can be obvious. The tiny adult beetles are present in warmer months. Furniture and other susceptible objects should be vacuumed to remove hairs and loose fibers. Some objects require steam cleaning or dry cleaning. [1] Materials should be kept clean of animal oils. [3] Furs can be protected in cold storage, [1] and museum specimens may be frozen. [6] An insecticide is sometimes used, mainly around carpets and rugs, as a dust such as diatomaceous earth or silica aerogel, a spray, or an emulsion. Fumigation is used in severe cases. It has been noted that mothballs are ineffective. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Helicoverpa zea</i> Species of moth

Helicoverpa zea, commonly known as the corn earworm, is a species in the family Noctuidae. The larva of the moth Helicoverpa zea is a major agricultural pest. Since it is polyphagous during the larval stage, the species has been given many different common names, including the cotton bollworm and the tomato fruitworm. It also consumes a wide variety of other crops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mealworm</span> Species of darkling beetle, larval form

Mealworms are the larval form of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pest control</span> Control of harmful species

Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest; such as any animal, plant or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dermestidae</span> Family of beetles

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, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,800 species described.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drugstore beetle</span> Species of beetle

The drugstore beetle, also known as the bread beetle, biscuit beetle, and misnamed as the biscuit weevil, is a tiny, brown beetle. It can be found infesting a wide variety of dried plant products, where it is among the most common non-weevils to be found. It is the only living member of the genus Stegobium. It belongs to the family Ptinidae, which also includes the deathwatch beetle and furniture beetle. A notable characteristic of this species is the symbiotic relationship the beetles have with the yeast they carry, which are transmitted from female to larvae through the oviduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varied carpet beetle</span> Species of beetle

The varied carpet beetle is a 3 mm-long beetle belonging to the family Dermestidae, positioned in subgenus Nathrenus. They are a common species, often considered a pest of domestic houses and, particularly, natural history museums, where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets, furniture, clothing, and insect collections. A. verbasci was also the first insect to be shown to have an annual behavioral rhythm and to date remains a classic example of circannual cycles in animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light brown apple moth</span> Species of moth (Epiphyas postvittana)

The light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae.

<i>Dermestes</i> Genus of beetles

Dermestes is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. The genus is distributed worldwide.

<i>Lasioderma serricorne</i> Species of beetle


Lasioderma serricorne, more commonly referred to as the cigarette beetle, cigar beetle, or tobacco beetle, is a small beetle that shares a remarkable resemblance with the drugstore beetle and the common furniture beetle. The cigarette beetle, along with the drugstore and furniture beetles, all belong to the Ptinidae beetle family. The cigarette beetle can be distinguished from A. punctatum by its flatter thorax, whereas the A. punctatum boasts a humped thorax. The cigarette beetle can be further differentiated from S. paniceum with its uniformly serrated antennae composed of 11 segments, unlike the three-segmented antennae of S. paniceum. Additionally, L. serricorne has more shallow grooves in its elytra, or hardened wing covers, compared to the A. punctatum and S. paniceum’s deep grooving.

<i>Agrotis ipsilon</i> Species of moth

Agrotis ipsilon, the dark sword-grass, black cutworm, greasy cutworm, floodplain cutworm or ipsilon dart, is a small noctuid moth found worldwide. The moth gets its scientific name from black markings on its forewings shaped like the letter "Y" or the Greek letter upsilon. The larvae are known as "cutworms" because they cut plants and other crops. The larvae are serious agricultural pests and feed on nearly all varieties of vegetables and many important grains.

Home-stored product entomology is the study of insects that infest foodstuffs stored in the home. It deals with the prevention, detection and eradication of pests.

<i>Mythimna unipuncta</i> Species of moth

Mythimna unipuncta, the true armyworm moth, white-speck moth, common armyworm, or rice armyworm, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1809. Mythimna unipuncta occurs in most of North America south of the Arctic, as well as parts of South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Although thought to be Neotropical in origin, it has been introduced elsewhere, and is often regarded as an agricultural pest. They are known as armyworms because the caterpillars move in lines as a massive group, like an army, from field to field, damaging crops.

<i>Anthrenus</i> Genus of beetles

Anthrenus is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the 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.

<i>Dermestes frischii</i> Species of beetle

Dermestes frischii is a species of beetle found in the Palearctic, including Europe, tropical Africa, the Near East, the Nearctic, North Africa and East Asia. In Europe, it is known from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Corsica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, mainland Denmark, European Turkey, Finland, mainland France, Germany, mainland Greece, Hungary, mainland Italy, Kaliningrad, Moldova, North Macedonia, mainland Norway (doubtful), Poland, Russia, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, mainland Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

<i>Anthrenus scrophulariae</i> Species of beetle

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) scrophulariae, also known as the common carpet beetle or buffalo carpet beetle, is a species of beetle originally found in Europe, the Middle East and the Nearctic, which has now spread to most of the world. Adult beetles feed on pollen and nectar, but the larvae feed on animal fibres and can be damaging pests to carpets, fabrics and museum specimens.

<i>Thylodrias</i> Genus of beetles

Thylodrias is a monotypic genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae containing the single species Thylodrias contractus, known commonly as the odd beetle and tissue paper beetle. It is native to Asia and is a widespread introduced species in North America. It can be a pest at times.

<i>Anthrenocerus australis</i> Species of beetle

Anthrenocerus australis is a species of beetle belonging to the Dermestidae family. It is commonly known as the Australian carpet beetle and is one of the most researched of the thirty-one species in the Anthrenocerus genus. This is generally attributed to its prevalence throughout Australia and New Zealand and the negative economic and agricultural impact it has as a pest. It is the larvae that causes damage to products, not the adult beetle. The total life cycle of this insect is around three years, most of which is spent as a larva. Once the beetle reaches maturity, it only lives for between two and six weeks.

<i>Diabrotica balteata</i> Species of beetle

Diabrotica balteata is a species of cucumber beetle in the family Chrysomelidae known commonly as the banded cucumber beetle. It occurs in the Americas, where its distribution extends from the United States to Colombia and Venezuela in South America. It is also present in Cuba. It is a pest of a variety of agricultural crops.

<i>Dermestes ater</i> Species of beetle

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. It is native to North America, but today it is found nearly worldwide. Like several other dermestid beetles, this species is a common pest of stored products.

<i>Anthrenus sarnicus</i> Species of beetle

Anthrenus sarnicus, the Guernsey carpet beetle, is a type of carpet beetle. It can be generally found in Great Britain. Its suborder is Polyphaga, the infraorder is Bostrichiformia, the superfamily is Bostrichoidea, and the family is Dermestidae. The carpet beetle is shaped like an oval and about the size of a pin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gahlhoff, J. E. Furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes). Publication Number EENY-19. University of Florida IFAS. 1997, revised 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Anthrenus flavipes. (LeConte, 1854). Pest Insects of our Cultural Heritage. Centre Interdisciplinaire de Conservation et de Restauration du Patrimoine.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Koehler, P. G., et al. Carpet Beetles. Document ENY-204 (IG089). University of Florida IFAS. 1991, revised 2011.
  4. Ma, Michael; Burkholder, Wendell E.; Carlson, Stanley D. (15 September 1978). "Supra-anal organ: a defensive mechanism of the furniture carpet beetle, Anthrenus flavipes (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 71 (5): 718–723. doi:10.1093/aesa/71.5.718.
  5. Ma, Michael; Hummel, Hans E.; Burkholder, Wendell E. (May 1980). "Estimation of single furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes LeConte) sex pheromone release by dose-response curve and chromatographic analysis of pentafluorobenzyl derivative of (Z)-3-decenoic acid". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 6 (3): 597–607. doi:10.1007/BF00987672.
  6. 1 2 3 Furniture carpet beetle, Anthrenus flavipes (LeConte). Archived 2010-05-04 at the Wayback Machine Integrated Pest Management Working Group, museumpests.net

Further reading