Species Anthrenus verbasci - Varied Carpet Beetle

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Remarks · See Also · Internet References

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Varied Carpet Beetle - Anthrenus verbasci

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Bostrichoidea (Carpet, Powder-post and Death-watch Beetles)

Family Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles)

Genus Anthrenus (Carpet Beetles)

Species verbasci (Varied Carpet Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

A.caseyi

Size

1.7 - 3.5 mm

Identification

Dorsal surface with scales of two colours: white and yellowish brown (may change to grey in older specimens). White scales condensed on lateral margins of pronotum, a prescutellar spot on the hind margin, and in several spots on elytra, usually partly merging into three tranverse fasciae.

Important characters apart from colour: Eyes not notched in front (diagnostic vs. A.flavipes and A.parvus), antennae 11-segmented with club of three segments (diagnostic vs. A.coloratus)

Range

Cosmopolitan

Remarks

The most abundant species in buildings. Sometimes taken for, or confused with, A.flavipes.

US native according to ITIS.

See Also

Anthrenus flavipes: Similar colour pattern, but without distinct prescutellar spot on pronotum, white scales on sides of pronotum usually divided into 2 or 3 patches, elytra with a distinct white spot on base, but not adjacent to scutellum. Most important difference: Eyes with an anterior notch in A.flavipes.

Anthrenus page has general information.

Internet References

Varied Carpet Beetle

ITIS

Contributed by Jim McClarin on 9 February, 2007 - 3:59am
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Tom Bentley, Beatriz Moisset, Boris Bueche
Last updated 3 March, 2009 - 7:16am

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