| Golden spider beetle | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Ptinidae |
| Genus: | Niptus |
| Species: | N. hololeucus |
| Binomial name | |
| Niptus hololeucus (Faldermann, 1836) | |
The golden spider beetle, Niptus hololeucus, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. [1] [2]
Niptus hololeucus is 3–4.5mm in length. [3] Its body is covered in silky golden hairs and fine scales.
Niptus hololeucus may be a pest of a wide variety of cereal based food products. [3] In 1981 an account of an infestation of these beetles was located in a roof void above offices in Rotherham, U.K. [4] This was found to be due to wild pigeons which were nesting within the loft: the beetles and their larvae were feeding upon their waste matter.
It is a temperate species originating in West Asia but now cosmopolitan. It is widespread across western Europe. [5] A single record was first recorded in Iran in a cave 2014. [6] N. hololeucus is one of the two species of Niptus to be found in caves. [6]
The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns, are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body. In various members of the family, however, the antennae are quite short and such species can be difficult to distinguish from related beetle families such as the Chrysomelidae. The scientific name of this beetle family goes back to a figure from Greek mythology: after an argument with nymphs, the shepherd Cerambus was transformed into a large beetle with horns.
Spider beetles make up the subfamily Ptininae, in the family Ptinidae. There are approximately 70 genera and 600 species in the subfamily, with about 12 genera and 70 species in North America north of Mexico.
Ptinidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Bostrichoidea. There are at least 220 genera and 2,200 described species in Ptinidae worldwide. The family includes spider beetles and deathwatch beetles.
Xyletininae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are about 13 genera and at least 170 described species in Xyletininae.
Anobiinae is a subfamily of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, with at least 45 genera. It was formerly considered a member of the family Anobiidae, but its family name has since been changed to Ptinidae.
Dorcatominae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are about 16 genera and at least 190 described species in Dorcatominae.
Dryophilinae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least six genera and two described species in Dryophilinae.
Ernobiinae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are about 8 genera and at least 90 described species in Ernobiinae.
Lasioderma is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae. As of 1990, there were over 50 species in the genus.
Mesocoelopodinae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least 4 genera and 100 described species in Mesocoelopodinae.
Tricorynus is a genus of deathwatch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least 90 described species in Tricorynus.
Calytheca is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least two described species in Calytheca, C. elongata White 1973 and C. convexa White.
Cryptoramorphus is a genus of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least two described species in Cryptoramorphus, C. floridanus and C. flavidus.
Stagetus is a genus of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least 20 described species in Stagetus. They eat fungi.
Ptinus tectus, often called the Australian spider beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae, or family Anobiidae, subfamily Ptininae. It is a cosmopolitan species. It is a pest of stored foods and museum specimens.
Ptinus is a genus of beetles distributed throughout much of the world, including Africa, the Australian region, the Palearctic, the Near East, the Nearctic, and the Neotropical realm. It is a member of the subfamily Ptininae, the spider beetles.
Niptus ventriculus is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Xyletinini is a tribe of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least 10 genera and 70 described species in Xyletinini.
Lasiodermini is a tribe of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least 3 genera and 30 described species in Lasiodermini.
Ptinini is a tribe of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are about 18 genera and at least 120 described species in Ptinini.