Species Attagenus unicolor - Black Carpet Beetle

Attagenus piceus Latreille, A. megatoma Latreille

Attagenus unicolor (Brahm 1791)

3 recognized subspecies: A. u. unicolor (subcosmopolitan), A. u. japonicus (=A. u. canadensis) (e. Palaearctic, introduced in NA), A. u. simulans (C Asia)(1)

2.5–5.5 mm(2)

Telling apart the subspecies: in A. u. unicolor, the pronotum and elytra are almost entirely covered with dark setae; in A. u. japonicus, the sides and base of the pronotum and the base of the elytra have distinctive golden brown setae.(1)

adventive and widespread in NA(3)(1), native to the Old World (origin unknown; non-native in Europe), now nearly cosmopolitan(4)(5)

nests of birds, wasps/bees, rodents; may infest homes and facilities such as grain elevators, flour mills, feed mills, and museums(6)(1)

Larvae feed on animal materials (silk cloth, wool, feathers, hair, fur, fishmeal, etc.) and cereal products; adults feed on pollen of various plants outdoors(6)

One of the most common household pests in NA (the damage is done by the larvae only); attacks museum specimens, esp. dried insects(1) Has been reported to damage books; pest in Japan's silk industry. Larvae often bore into food containers, making food vulnerable to infestation by other pests. When disturbed, larvae curl and remain motionless for a long period.(6)