Subfamily Ptininae - Spider Beetles

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · See Also · Internet References

Unidentified Insect - Gibbium aequinoctiale

Spider Beetle in California - Ptinus fallax

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 Anobiidae (Death-watch and Spider Beetles)

Subfamily Ptininae (Spider Beetles)

Size

Largest species are about 4 mm in length.

Identification

Body very constricted between pronotum and elytra, pronotum often with humps, elytra often with shoulders reduced (flightless species).

Head not retracted below pronotum, antennae free, filiform, their bases proximate.

Range

world-wide

Habitat

several species occurr in houses.

Food

Dry plant and animal matter, only a few are wood-borers as larvae.

Remarks

Formerly regarded as an independent family.

See Also

Ptinomorphus (Eucradinae) is similar in appearance to spider beetles.

Internet References

taxonomy info (Biodiversity Explorer, South Africa)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 15 January, 2005 - 1:30am
Additional contributions by Boris Bueche
Last updated 25 May, 2007 - 10:32am

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