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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Bostrichoidea » Carpet Beetles (Dermestidae) » Anthrenini » Megatoma » Megatoma variegata
Photo#100112
Carpet Beetle - Megatoma variegata - male
Copyright © 2007 Lynette Elliott

Carpet Beetle - Megatoma variegata - Male
Thompson Falls, Sanders County, Montana, USA
March 28, 2007
Size: 6 mm
Montana State Record.

I was surprised to see this one that is 6 mm compared to the last 4 mm one I photographed. Perhaps this is a male, or I guess the size can vary that much?

It is a male - see longer end segment of antennae.
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Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 28 March, 2007 - 6:25pm
Last updated 20 May, 2011 - 10:12am

100% ID
Both female and male have been pinned by Dr. Beal and I've mailed them off to the entomology dept. at MSU in Bozeman, MT for their collection.
… Lynette Elliott, 6 June, 2007 - 9:54am login or register to post comments

 
Good work, Lynette.
I so enjoy seeing bugguide play a role in solving entomological puzzels and mysteries.
… Jim McClarin, 6 June, 2007 - 6:09pm login or register to post comments

It is male!
Dear Lynette,

just compare the last antennal segments of this, and your other specimen :-)
… Boris Büche, 29 March, 2007 - 9:15am login or register to post comments

Did you collect it?
Richard Beal says he could be 100% certain if he examined a male. (Of course I don't know if this *is* a male :-)
… Jim McClarin, 28 March, 2007 - 10:11pm login or register to post comments

 
Not this time
but I have a feeling I'll see it again. They seem to eat wood on the side of the house and I've seen three already this spring. Do you think size could make it a male?
… Lynette Elliott, 29 March, 2007 - 7:44am login or register to post comments

 
Normally female beetles are bigger,
but with this species I couldn't say. I thought the antennal clubs looked slightly larger but perhaps a male's antennae are substantially bigger. That's the usual diagnostic trait in sexing dermestids I think.

Okay, I re-compared and I would say the terminal antennomere *is* substantially longer, so this one must be a male.

Okay, I've such noticed Boris' comment above. It appears I'm late with this assessment but at least I'm not wrong :-)
… Jim McClarin, 29 March, 2007 - 9:35am login or register to post comments

 
Ok,
thanks guys, I'll keep my eye out for him.

I found him. I collected him and one of his friends tonight. Same place as always....eating the wooden trim on the house. I'll email Dr. Beal and see if he wants to look at the male.
… Lynette Elliott, 29 March, 2007 - 4:55pm login or register to post comments

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