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 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.
Anthrenus carpet beetles are small beetles a few millimetres long with a rather rounded shape. Their antennae bear small clubs at the end, which are plumper in males than in females. Many have a delicate and rather pretty 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.
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 on 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 on wool, fur, feathers, and natural history collections. [2]
According to World Dermestidae catalogue (Jiří Háva, 2023), following taxonomic division is proposed for Anthrenus and related groups of Dermestidae, including Anthrenus and related genera: [3]
Anthrenus contains the following species: [4]
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.
Dermestes is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. The genus is distributed worldwide.
Trogoderma is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. There are about 135 species worldwide.
Attagenus is a genus of beetles. This genus is found in tropical Africa, the Palearctic including Europe, the Near East, the Nearctic, North Africa and East Asia. There are nearly 200 species. The genus has existed for at least 99 million years, with fossils known from the Cenomanian aged Burmese amber and Turonian aged New Jersey amber.
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.
Ctesias is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. They are distributed in the Palearctic, including Europe. There are about 23 species.
Globicornis is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. They are distributed throughout the world.
Megatoma is a genus of beetle native to the Palearctic, the Near East and the Nearctic.
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.
Cryptorhopalum is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, containing the following species:
Orphinus is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, the skin beetles. The genus is distributed in Africa, Asia, and the Australian region, especially in tropical areas; at least one species is cosmopolitan. There are about 88 species.
Phradonoma is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, containing the following species:
Thaumaglossa is a genus of beetles in the family Dermestidae, containing the following species:
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.
Anthrenodes is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.
Anthrenops is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.
Solskinus is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.
Florilinus is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.
Nathrenus is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.
Anthrenus is a subgenus of the genus Anthrenus of the subfamily Megatominae within the family of skin beetles.