Dermestidae

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Dermestid beetles
Temporal range: Jurassic–Recent
Anthrenus verbasci MHNT Fronton Side view.jpg
Varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Bostrichiformia
Superfamily: Bostrichoidea
Family: Dermestidae
Latreille, 1804
Subfamilies

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. [1]

Dermestids have a variety of habits; most genera are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material, such as skin or pollen, animal hair, feathers, dead insects and natural fibers. Members of Dermestes are found in animal carcasses, while others may be found in mammal, bird, bee, or wasp nests. Thaumaglossa only lives in the egg cases of mantids, while Trogoderma species are pests of grain.

These beetles are significant in forensic entomology. Some species are associated with decaying carcasses, which may help with criminal investigations. Some species are pests (urban entomology) and can cause extensive damage to natural fibers in homes and businesses.

They are used in taxidermy and by natural history museums to clean animal skeletons. Some dermestid species, commonly called "bow bugs", infest violin cases, feeding on the bow hair. [2]

Description

Adult Dermestidae are generally small beetles (1–12 mm long), rounded to oval in shape, with hairy or scaly elytra that may form distinctive and colourful patterns. [3] [4] Except in genera Dermestes and Trichelodes , there is a single ocellus in the middle of the head. The antennae are clubbed (except in male Thylodrias contractus) and usually fit into a groove on the underside of the thorax, concealing them when the beetle is at rest. Adult females of T. contractus are notable for being larviform, meaning they retain a larval morphology even into adulthood. [3]

Larval Dermestidae range from 5 to 15 mm long and are usually covered in tufts of long, dense hairs (setae). [4] In subfamily Megatominae and the genus Trinodes , some of these setae are hastisetae: barbed setae ending in spear-like heads ( hasta being the Latin word for "spear"). Hastisetae serve a defensive role, detaching and entangling predators. [5]

Pupae of subfamilies Dermestinae and Attageninae are covered in structures known as gin-traps, as defense against predators. Pupae of Megatominae are protected within the exuviae of the last larval instar. [5]

Diet and behaviour

Dermestid larvae are typically found on dry organic items that are hard for other organisms to digest, such as dried foodstuffs, skins, hides, wood and other natural fibers. In forensic studies, the larvae are found on human corpses during the dry and skeletal phases of decomposition, which occurs several days after death. [4] [6] Larvae also move away from light and often hide in any cavity in order to remain undisturbed. [4] In natural habitats, they can be found on animal carcasses, under bark, and in the webs, nests and burrows of various animals. [3]

Larvae of subfamilies Dermestinae and Attageninae (which lack hastisetae), burrow into feeding substrates, pupate in concealed locations, and show fast escape behaviours when disturbed. Larvae of Megatominae (which have hastisetae), do not burrow, pupate where they have been feeding, and their response to disturbance is to stop moving, arch the body and spread the hastisetae. This difference may be because hastisetae would be a hindrance for burrowing larvae. [5]

Adult dermestids are known to feed on pollen and nectar. [3] Adults of Dermestes are cannibalistic and will eat young larvae and pupae; this means that when kept in captivity, adults should be placed in separate containers from the immature stages. [4]

Economic relevance

Urban and stored products

Dermestid beetles are destructive to a number of common items. Natural fibers such as wool, silk, cotton, linen, fur, or feathers are much more prone to attack than synthetic fibers. [7] Dermestids also attack chocolate, copra, and cocoa beans. [8]

Medical

Dermestid hastisetae, both those attached to exuviae and those shed by larvae, cause health problems in humans when inhaled (rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma), ingested in contaminated food (nausea, fever, diarrhea, proctitis, perianal itching) or touched with skin (dermatitis). [5]

Forensic

Dermestid beetles being used to clean a human skull at Skulls Unlimited International, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Human Skull being cleaning by Dermestid Beetles.jpg
Dermestid beetles being used to clean a human skull at Skulls Unlimited International, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dermestes maculatus, hide beetles, also have the potential to offer investigators an estimation of the time since death in homicide or questionable cases. [9] [10] Similar to the use of flies in forensic entomology, the arrival of D. maculatus to carrion occurs in a predictable succession. Adult D. maculatus beetles generally arrive 5 to 11 days after death. [11] In an attempt to refine this relatively wide range, recent research has repeated arthropod succession studies. [12] [13] These studies are applied to estimate the arrival of various species of Dermestidae after death. Development for dermestids is temperature dependent, and the optimal temperature for D. maculatus is 30 °C. Development data is normalized using Accumulated Degree Days. [14] Dermestids can also be used in cases involving entomotoxicology, where feces and shed larval skins can be analyzed for toxins.

Dermestes maculatus collected from raccoon carcass:

Evolution

While possible members of the family have been described from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic based on isolated elytra, the oldest known unambiguous member of the family is Paradermestes from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China, which appears to belong to the subfamily Dermestinae. [15] [16] Members of the subfamilies Attageninae and Megatominae are known from the Cretaceous, including the living genera Attagenus and Megatoma. The ancestral ecology of the group was likely mycophagy, which is retained in Orphilinae, with the ancestor of most other lineages making the transition to saprophagy. [15]

Genera

Dermestidae contains the following 74 genera: [1]

Selected taxa

Larder beetles

Dermestes lardarius Bacon Beetle.png
Dermestes lardarius

The larva of the larder beetle Dermestes lardarius is longer than the adult and is covered in reddish brown or black setae. [17] It has two back-curved, spine-like appendages on the posterior end. The larva of the black larder beetle has less strongly curved appendages. [4] Mature larvae of both species tend to bore into hard substrates such as wood, cork, and plaster to pupate. [18]

Larder beetles are infrequent household pests. [19] 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. There are three black dots arranged in a triangle shape on each wing. The sternum 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. [18]

The black larder or incinerator beetle, Dermestes ater , is completely dark with scattered yellow setae on the body. It is similar to Dermestes maculatus but lacks serrations on its elytra. Its ventral surface is yellow instead of white. This beetle is a pest of fish, mushrooms, and cheese. [4] [18] [20]

Hide beetle (leather beetle)

Dermestes maculatus , known as the hide beetle, leather beetle, or skin beetle, feeds on raw skins and hides like the larder beetle. [18] 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. [18] Also, in adults, the forewings are dark brown and the sternum is mostly white with some black. [4] [20] [21] Its life cycle is 60 to 70 days and the female can lay up to 800 eggs. [18]

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. [19]

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 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 (13 mm) and be yellow to brown in color. Other types of carpet beetle are regularly 1⁄4 to 1 inch (6.4 to 25.4 millimetres) 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. [19] [22] The larvae of the carpet beetle are often referred to as "woolly bears" or "buffalo moths".

Black carpet beetle

The black carpet beetle, 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, which is a protein found in animal hair and feathers. [19] [23] 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. [19] 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. [24] 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. [22] [24]

Varied carpet beetle

The varied carpet beetle, 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 and Canada. [25] 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. [24] 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 (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. [26]

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. [26] They tend to infest grains and create serious losses to stored products. [4] 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. [26]

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. [18]

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 must be by spot treatment to crack and crevice sites where they are suspected of hiding. Pyrethrins are labeled for use against hide beetles. Insecticides used for carpet beetles are also appropriate to use against hide and larder beetles. [18]

Carpet beetles

Regular cleaning of spilled food or lint will eliminate any sites for potential breeding. Susceptible items like food, woolens, 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. [27]

Pyrethroid insecticides can be used to control carpet beetles. These contain active ingredients such as permethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin and tralomethrin. [27]

Diatomaceous earth is also effective. [28] [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bookworm (insect)</span> Any insect that is said to bore through books

Bookworm is a general name for any insect that is said to bore through books.

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

Trogidae, sometimes called hide beetles, is a family of beetles with a distinctive warty or bumpy appearance. Found worldwide, the family includes about 300 species contained in four or five genera.

<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. 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">Carpet beetle</span> Topics referred to by the same term

Carpet beetle may refer to any of several taxa of beetles:

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

The khapra beetle, also called cabinet beetle, which originated in South Asia, is one of the world's most destructive pests of grain products and seeds. It is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. Infestations are difficult to control because of the insect's ability to survive without food for long periods, its preference for dry conditions and low-moisture food, and its resistance to many insecticides. There is a federal quarantine restricting the importation of rice into the U.S. from countries with known infestations of the beetle. Khapra beetle infestation can spoil otherwise valuable trade goods and threaten significant economic losses if introduced to a new area. Handling or consuming contaminated grain and seed products can lead to health issues such as skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress.

<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>Dermestes lardarius</i> Species of beetle

Dermestes lardarius, commonly known as the larder beetle or moisture bug, is a species of beetle in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. It is found worldwide. It is a common pest of households and storage facilities ("larders") in much of the world. It eats animal products, such as dried meats and fish, pet food, skins and hides, feathers, cheese, and museum specimens such as dried insects. It may also eat plant material that is high in protein, such as grain.

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

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.

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>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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megatominae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Megatominae is a subfamily of the beetle family Dermestidae. This subfamily contains several of the most well-known household and stored-product pest beetles, in the genera Anthrenus and Trogoderma.

<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>Necrobia rufipes</i> Species of beetle

Necrobia rufipes, the red-legged ham beetle, is a species of predatory beetle, in the family Cleridae, with a cosmopolitan distribution, first described by Charles De Geer in 1775.

<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>Anthrenus flavipes</i> Species of beetle

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. It is a pest that damages household materials such as textiles.

<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.

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.

<i>Trogoderma variabile</i> Species of beetle

Trogoderma variabile, the warehouse beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Central America, North America and Oceania.

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) oceanicus, is a species of skin beetle native to Hawaii, India, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, New Caledonia and Mauritius. It is introduced to Egypt, French Polynesia, Czech Republic and England particularly with commodities.

References

  1. 1 2 Háva, Jiří (2021). "Dermestidae world (Coleoptera)" . Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  2. ↑ VanClay, Mary. "Bitten By the Bug". www.johnsonstring.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Byrd, Jason H.; Castner, James L., eds. (2009-09-11). Forensic Entomology (2 ed.). CRC Press. doi:10.1201/noe0849392153. ISBN   978-0-367-80569-2.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ruzzier, Enrico; Kadej, Marcin; Battisti, Andrea (2020-01-23). "Occurrence, ecological function and medical importance of dermestid beetle hastisetae". PeerJ. 8: e8340. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8340 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   6983295 . PMID   32002326.
  6. ↑ Forensic Entomology: Use of Insects to Help Solve Crime. Forensic Investigations.
  7. ↑ P.G. Koehler and F.M. Oi (1991). Carpet Beetles. University of Florida IFAS Extension
  8. ↑ Walker, K. (2008). Hide Beetle Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine . Pest and Diseases Image Library
  9. ↑ Catts, E. P.; Goff, M. L. (1992). "Forensic entomology in criminal investigations". Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37: 252–272. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345. PMID   1539937.
  10. ↑ Goff, M. L. (1993). "Estimation of postmortem interval using arthropod development and successional patterns". Forensic Sci. Rev. 5 (2): 82–94. PMID   26270076.
  11. ↑ Richards, E. N.; Goff, M. L. (1997). "Arthropod succession on exposed carrion in three contrasting tropical habitats on Hawaii Islands, Hawaii". J. Med. Entomol. 34 (3): 328–339. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/34.3.328 . PMID   9151499.
  12. ↑ Vitta, A.; et al. (2007). "A preliminary study on insects associated with pig (Sus scrofa) carcasses in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand". Tropical Biomedicine. 24 (2): 1–5. PMID   18209701.
  13. ↑ Velazquez, Yelitza (2008). "A checklist of arthropods associated with rat carrion in a montane locality of northern Venezuela". Forensic Science International. 174 (1): 67–69. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.02.020. hdl: 10045/2790 . PMID   17386987.
  14. ↑ Richardson, M. S.; Goff, M. L. (2001). "Effects of Temperature and Intraspecific Interaction on the Development of Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)". J. Med. Entomol. 38 (3): 347–351. doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-38.3.347 . PMID   11372957. S2CID   38207950.
  15. 1 2 Motyka, Michal; Kusy, Dominik; Háva, Jiří; Jahodářová, Eva; Bílková, Renata; Vogler, Alfried P.; Bocak, Ladislav (January 2022). "Mitogenomic data elucidate the phylogeny and evolution of life strategies in Dermestidae (Coleoptera)". Systematic Entomology. 47 (1): 82–93. doi:10.1111/syen.12520. ISSN   0307-6970.
  16. ↑ Deng, Congshuang; Ślipiński, Adam; Ren, Dong; Pang, Hong (March 2017). "The Oldest Dermestid Beetle from the Middle Jurassic of China (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)". Annales Zoologici. 67 (1): 109–112. doi:10.3161/00034541ANZ2017.67.1.012. ISSN   0003-4541.
  17. ↑ Larder Beetle Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine . University of Rhode Island Green Share Factsheets.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lyon, W. F. Hide and Larder Beetles. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Beetle Identification Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine . Pest Solutions Plus.
  20. 1 2 Genus Dermestes. BugGuide.
  21. ↑ Bennett, S. M. (2003). Dermestes maculatus.
  22. 1 2 Lyon, William F. Carpet Beetle. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.
  23. ↑ Dermestid Beetle Archived 2008-02-22 at the Wayback Machine . Texas A&M University Entomology.
  24. 1 2 3 Exploring California Insects: Carpet or Museum Beetles Archived 2008-05-14 at the Wayback Machine .
  25. ↑ McLarin, Jim (February 2007). "Species Anthrenus verbasci - Varied Carpet Beetle". Bug Guide.
  26. 1 2 3 Harris, D.L. (2006) Khapra Beetle. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
  27. 1 2 Cranshaw, W.S. (2000). Carpet Beetles. Colorado University State-Extension.
  28. ↑ Lyon, William F. "Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Carpet Beetle". HYG-2103-97. Columbus: The Ohio State University. Archived from the original on 2001-04-25. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  29. ↑ "Black Carpet Beetle" (PDF). Insect Advice from Extension: Fact Sheets. Penn State University: College of Agricultural Sciences. 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-27.

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