Genus Dermestes

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Works Cited

Dermestes caninus Germar - Dermestes caninus

Dermestidae, lateral - Dermestes maculatus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

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

Family Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles)

Genus Dermestes

Explanation of Names

Dermestes Linnaeus 1758

'skin/hide eater'

Numbers

17-18 spp. in 2 subgenera our area, >80 spp. in 4 subgenera worldwide(1)

Size

5-10 mm (the largest members of the family)

Identification

D. ater: scutellum dark, no contrast against elytra (♂)

D. caninus: broad band of pale hairs across elytra near base, and thin band near apex (♂)

D. frischii: top of head and anterior & lateral margins of pronotum with pale yellowish hairs; central portion and posterior margin of pronotum dark (♂; ♀abdomen)

D. maculatus: scutellum yellowish-brown to reddish-brown; pronotum and elytra with uniformly-colored whitish or pale yellowish hairs (♂; ♀abdomen, larva)

D. marmoratus: basal half of elytra with large pale patch extending from costa half-way to midline

D. talpinus: scutellum whitish or pale yellow; pronotum and elytra with a mix of reddish-brown and pale bluish-gray hairs, more densely haired than D. maculatus (♀)

Photo source:(2)

Range

worldwide

Habitat

on carrion, hides, sometimes stored foods

Food

skin of dead animals, stored meat products

Works Cited

1.	Háva J. (2018) World catalogue of the Dermestidae

2.	Herrmann A. (200?-) Pictures of some dermestid species

Contributed by Cotinis on 1 September, 2004 - 7:00pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, v belov
Last updated 16 January, 2015 - 4:58am

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