Species Xestobium rufovillosum - Deathwatch Beetle
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
Superfamily Bostrichoidea
Family Ptinidae (Death-watch and Spider Beetles)
Subfamily Ernobiinae
Tribe Xestobiini
Genus Xestobium
No Taxon (subgenus Xestobium)
Species rufovillosum (Deathwatch Beetle)
Explanation of Names
Xestobium rufovillosum (DeGeer 1774)
common name is derived from adults tapping on wood to attract a mate: males and females call each other by striking the surface of wood, which some interpreted as death knocking at the door(1)
subcosmopolitan, native to Europe, adventive in NA(2)(3) [New England, IL(4)]
Habitat
in oak and especially wood that has been previously attacked by decay fungi; indoors it usually infests wood that has been exposed to excessive moisture(1)
Life Cycle
takes 2–3 (up to 10) years; adults do not feed and live about 10 weeks(1)
Remarks
adults probably do not fly, but can raise wing covers and flutter hind wings; tapping is usually heard in spring when adults emerge(1)