Attagenus smirnovi

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Attagenus smirnovi
Attagenus smirnovi.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Genus: Attagenus
Species:
A. smirnovi
Binomial name
Attagenus smirnovi
Zhantiev, 1973

Attagenus smirnovi, the brown carpet beetle, is a species of beetle from the family Dermestidae. It is a synanthropic pest which lives in human buildings, homes and museums and eats wool-textiles, carpets, skin and fur. [1] Due to its specific epithet smirnovi, the beetle is also known in the United Kingdom as the 'Vodka beetle', after the Smirnoff brand of vodka. [2]

Contents

Features

Their bodies reach a length of between 2.3 and 4 millimetres. [3] The head and pronotum are dark brown to black. Their elytra are densely hairy and light brown.

Distribution

Naturally found in Africa, they have spread to Russia (where they were first observed in 1961, in Moscow, by E. S. Smirnov), the Czech Republic and other eastern European countries, along with Germany (where the first example was found in 1985 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), Denmark and the United Kingdom. The species was first described as a new one in 1973, by Rustem Devletovich Zhantiev, who named it Attagenus smirnovi. The museums and scientific institutions of Northern Europe set up an international project to research the brown fur beetle's distribution in Europe and how this may be related to climate change. [4] Its research areas include which climatic conditions allow it to spread by flying from house to house.

Related Research Articles

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<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">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>Attagenus pellio</i> Species of beetle

Attagenus pellio, the fur beetle or carpet beetle, is a pest which damages stored products such as furs, skins, textiles and grain.

<i>Ptinus fur</i> Species of beetle

Ptinus fur, the white marked spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the genus Ptinus, with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution.

<i>Attagenus</i> Genus of beetles

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.

<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>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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attagenini</span> Tribe of beetles

Attagenini is a tribe of carpet beetles in the family Dermestidae. There are at least 4 genera and 20 described species in Attagenini. Attagenini was previously considered a subfamily of Dermestidae called Attageninae, but was reduced in rank to tribe in 2003.

<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.

Attagenus rufipennis is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Attagenus schaefferi</i> Species of beetle

Attagenus schaefferi is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Attagenus fasciatus</i> Species of beetle

Attagenus fasciatus, known generally as banded black carpet beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. Other common names include the tobacco seed beetle and wardrobe beetle. It is found in North America, Oceania, and Europe. Attagenus fasciatus is nearly a cosmopolitan species and widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

References

  1. Lynda Hillyer & Valerie Blyth (1994). "Carpet beetle: a pilot study in detection and control". In Simon Knell (ed.). Care of Collections. Volume 5 of Leicester Readers in Museum Studies. Routledge. pp. 240–258. ISBN   0-415-11285-0.
  2. Attagenus smirnovi Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Article, Danish National Museum
  3. Attagenus smirnovi Images at Dermestidae.com
  4. Project "Insect pests and climate change - The Attagenus smirnovi project" Archived August 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden