To install click the Add extension button. That's it.

The source code for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Mozilla Foundation, Google, and Apple. You could also do it yourself at any point in time.

How to transfigure the Wikipedia

Would you like Wikipedia to always look as professional and up-to-date? We have created a browser extension. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology.

Try it — you can delete it anytime.

Install in 5 seconds
4,5
Kelly Slayton
Congratulations on this excellent venture… what a great idea!
Alexander Grigorievskiy
I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like.
What we do. Every page goes through several hundred of perfecting techniques; in live mode. Quite the same Wikipedia. Just better.
Great Wikipedia has got greater.
.
Leo
Newton
Brights
Milds

Dermestidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dermestid beetles
Temporal range: Jurassic–Recent
Varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Bostrichiformia
Superfamily: Bostrichoidea
Family: Dermestidae
Latreille, 1804
Subfamilies

Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,800 species described.[1]

Dermestids have a variety of habits; most genera are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material, such as skin or pollen, animal hair, feathers, dead insects and natural fibers. Members of Dermestes are found in animal carcasses, while others may be found in mammal, bird, bee, or wasp nests. Thaumaglossa only lives in the egg cases of mantids, while Trogoderma species are pests of grain.

These beetles are significant in forensic entomology. Some species are associated with decaying carcasses, which may help with criminal investigations. Some species are pests (urban entomology) and can cause extensive damage to natural fibers in homes and businesses.

They are used in taxidermy and by natural history museums to clean animal skeletons. Some dermestid species, commonly called "bow bugs", infest violin cases, feeding on the bow hair.[2]

YouTube Encyclopedic

  • 1/2
    Views:
    3 898
    3 243
  • Trogoderma (Dermestidae) adult dissection
  • Trogoderma (Dermestidae) Larvae Dissection

Transcription

This video details the steps needed for Trogoderma adult beetle dissection. It has been produced by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, with CRCPlant Biosecurity. Methods and dissections have been done by Andras Szito, Script by Andras Szito and Cameron Brumley, Production, editing and narration by Cameron Brumley, and photography by Pia Scanlon. Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, is recognised as one of the world's most destructive pests of grain products and is subject to strict quarantine measures in many countries. Their reliable identification and separation from dozens of very similar looking Dermestidae species is crucial to maintaining a country's area freedom. Adult specimens are to easier to identify than larval forms, though they are often found dead, and damaged from grain movement. Species level identification requires examination of the genitalia which are usually protected inside the abdomen. It is important to have on hand the right equipment to carry out the dissection. We recommend using quality fine pointed forceps and scissors. The choice of scissors is very important, as it is likely that poorly suited scissors will damage the specimen. We use scissors with 45 degree bent blades and a 2mm cutting edge. A range of home-made micro tools can also be useful to have on hand. For genitalia dissection the adult beetles first need to be heated in hot 10% KOH or NaOH solution. This helps soften the body contents and begins to dissolve the internal tissues. Here, the preserving ethanol is siphoned off and KOH added to the vial. The specimens are then heated to around 70 degrees centigrade for 15 to 20 minutes, preferably using dry block heater where the temperature can be controlled. The specimen is then placed back in ethanol into a cavity glass or concave microscope slide ready for dissection. First the abdomen is separated from the body by pressing at its base. The KOH should have softened the specimen enough for it to separate easily. For female beetles, the tergites are then cut or ripped laterally leaving the last segment untouched. This is where quality forceps can make a difference. Here, we are carefully holding the abdomen with one pair and using the other pair of forceps to tear the more flexible tergites free. These stages can be carried out under a simple stereo microscope. In this image you can see that the KOH has not properly dissolved the abdominal cavity contents. The abdomen should be placed back into warm KOH until the desired outcome is reached. With this specimen we use a slightly different technique to separate the tergites. After separating the abdomen from the body it is carefully held with one pair of forceps. The other pair of forceps are compressed and inserted into the abdomen cavity and are then and expanded. The abdomen should separate along the edges of the tergites. It can then be more easily separated further if need be. Commonly, with male specimens the genitalia can simply be pushed out with some gentle pressure. Here you can see the male genitalia further removed from the abdomen. After being placed on a slide, using micro tools we are carefully separating out the male aedeagus from the remaining tissue. Care is needed during this process as it can be easily damaged. After it has been orientated correctly a coverslip placed over the mounting medium. Here we have used glycerol as a short term mountant. The adeagus is now ready for examining. From the female genitalia we have mounted in a similar fashion the sclerites in the bursa copulatrix. These are more robust and less prone to breakage. Once examinations have finished the separate body parts, including the genitalia, should be mounted on a cardboard rectangle for curation as shown. Water miscible glue is recommended so the specimen can be easily soaked off if further examination is required. Housing the genitalia in a microvial with glycerol is not recommended as it has a reduced lifespan.

Description

Adult Dermestidae are generally small beetles (1–12 mm long), rounded to oval in shape, with hairy or scaly elytra that may form distinctive and colourful patterns.[3][4] Except in genera Dermestes and Trichelodes, there is a single ocellus in the middle of the head. The antennae are clubbed (except in male Thylodrias contractus) and usually fit into a groove on the underside of the thorax, concealing them when the beetle is at rest. Adult females of T. contractus are notable for being larviform, meaning they retain a larval morphology even into adulthood.[3]

Larval Dermestidae range from 5 to 15 mm long and are usually covered in tufts of long, dense hairs (setae).[4] In subfamily Megatominae and the genus Trinodes, some of these setae are hastisetae: barbed setae ending in spear-like heads (hasta being the Latin word for "spear"). Hastisetae serve a defensive role, detaching and entangling predators.[5]

Pupae of subfamilies Dermestinae and Attageninae are covered in structures known as gin-traps, as defense against predators. Pupae of Megatominae are protected within the exuviae of the last larval instar.[5]

Diet and behaviour

Dermestid larvae are typically found on dry organic items that are hard for other organisms to digest, such as dried foodstuffs, skins, hides, wood and other natural fibers. In forensic studies, the larvae are found on human corpses during the dry and skeletal phases of decomposition, which occurs several days after death.[4][6] Larvae also move away from light and often hide in any cavity in order to remain undisturbed.[4] In natural habitats, they can be found on animal carcasses, under bark, and in the webs, nests and burrows of various animals.[3]

Larvae of subfamilies Dermestinae and Attageninae (which lack hastisetae), burrow into feeding substrates, pupate in concealed locations, and show fast escape behaviours when disturbed. Larvae of Megatominae (which have hastisetae), do not burrow, pupate where they have been feeding, and their response to disturbance is to stop moving, arch the body and spread the hastisetae. This difference may be because hastisetae would be a hindrance for burrowing larvae.[5]

Adult dermestids are known to feed on pollen and nectar.[3] Adults of Dermestes are cannibalistic and will eat young larvae and pupae; this means that when kept in captivity, adults should be placed in separate containers from the immature stages.[4]

Economic relevance

Urban and stored products

Dermestid beetles are destructive to a number of common items. Natural fibers such as wool, silk, cotton, linen, fur, or feathers are much more prone to attack than synthetic fibers.[7] Dermestids also attack chocolate, copra, and cocoa beans.[8]

Medical

Dermestid hastisetae, both those attached to exuviae and those shed by larvae, cause health problems in humans when inhaled (rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma), ingested in contaminated food (nausea, fever, diarrhea, proctitis, perianal itching) or touched with skin (dermatitis).[5]

Forensic

Dermestid beetles being used to clean a human skull at Skulls Unlimited International, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dermestes maculatus, hide beetles, also have the potential to offer investigators an estimation of the time since death in homicide or questionable cases.[9][10] Similar to the use of flies in forensic entomology, the arrival of D. maculatus to carrion occurs in a predictable succession. Adult D. maculatus beetles generally arrive 5 to 11 days after death.[11] In an attempt to refine this relatively wide range, recent research has repeated arthropod succession studies.[12][13] These studies are applied to estimate the arrival of various species of Dermestidae after death. Development for dermestids is temperature dependent, and the optimal temperature for D. maculatus is 30 °C. Development data is normalized using Accumulated Degree Days.[14] Dermestids can also be used in cases involving entomotoxicology, where feces and shed larval skins can be analyzed for toxins.

Dermestes maculatus collected from raccoon carcass:

  • Lateral view (Dermestes maculatus)
    Lateral view (Dermestes maculatus)
  • Head view (D. maculatus)
    Head view (D. maculatus)
  • Ventral view (D. maculatus)
    Ventral view (D. maculatus)
  • Dorsal view (D. maculatus)
    Dorsal view (D. maculatus)

Evolution

While possible members of the family have been described from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic based on isolated elytra, the oldest known unambiguous member of the family is Paradermestes from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China, which appears to belong to the subfamily Dermestinae.[15][16] Members of the subfamilies Attageninae and Megatominae are known from the Cretaceous, including the living genera Attagenus and Megatoma. The ancestral ecology of the group was likely mycophagy, which is retained in Orphilinae, with the ancestor of most other lineages making the transition to saprophagy.[15]

Genera

Dermestidae contains the following 74 genera:[1]

Selected taxa

Larder beetles

Dermestes lardarius

The larva of the larder beetle Dermestes lardarius is longer than the adult and is covered in reddish brown or black setae.[17] It has two back-curved, spine-like appendages on the posterior end. The larva of the black larder beetle has less strongly curved appendages.[4] Mature larvae of both species tend to bore into hard substrates such as wood, cork, and plaster to pupate.[18]

Larder beetles are infrequent household pests.[19] Adults and larvae feed on raw skins and hides. Adult larder beetles are generally 1/3 to 3/8 of an inch long and are dark brown with a broad, pale yellow spotted band across the upper portion of the elytra. There are three black dots arranged in a triangle shape on each wing. The sternum and legs of the larder beetle are covered in fine, yellow setae. Adult larder beetles are typically found outdoors in protected areas during the winter, but during the spring and early summer they enter buildings. Females lay approximately 135 eggs near a food source, and the eggs will hatch in about 12 days. The life cycle of larder beetles lasts around 40 to 50 days.[18]

The black larder or incinerator beetle, Dermestes ater, is completely dark with scattered yellow setae on the body. It is similar to Dermestes maculatus but lacks serrations on its elytra. Its ventral surface is yellow instead of white. This beetle is a pest of fish, mushrooms, and cheese.[4][18][20]

Hide beetle (leather beetle)

Dermestes maculatus, known as the hide beetle, leather beetle, or skin beetle, feeds on raw skins and hides like the larder beetle.[18] This species is similar in appearance to the larder beetle, with larvae covered in short and long reddish brown or black setae, but its two spine-like posterior appendages curve forward.[18] Also, in adults, the forewings are dark brown and the sternum is mostly white with some black.[4][20][21] Its life cycle is 60 to 70 days and the female can lay up to 800 eggs.[18]

The hide and larder beetles both feed on an assortment of animal protein based products and cause serious damage in the areas of silkworm production and museums.[19]

Carpet beetle

Carpet beetle larvae start to feed as soon as they hatch. They are carrot shaped and heavily covered with setae, especially on their posterior end. The number of instars typically ranges from five to 11 and in some cases may reach as high as 20. Larvae of the black carpet beetle Attagenus megatoma may grow up to 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) and be yellow to brown in color. Other types of carpet beetle are regularly 1⁄4 to 1 inch (6.4 to 25.4 millimetres) long and covered with dark setae. Certain species have distinctive tufts of setae extending from their posterior end. These beetles are attracted to soiled fabrics and crevices where dead insects may serve as a food source.[19][22] The larvae of the carpet beetle are often referred to as "woolly bears" or "buffalo moths".

Black carpet beetle

The black carpet beetle, Attagenus megatoma, is a widely known stored product pest and one of the most destructive because of its potential damage to household products containing keratin, which is a protein found in animal hair and feathers.[19][23] They are also able to burrow through various types of food packaging, allowing passage for other insects.

Females can lay up to 90 eggs and they hatch in about 8 to 15 days. Generally, this species only has one generation a year.[19] The time it takes to become an adult varies from six months to a year. In addition, an adult black carpet beetle can live for an additional two months.[24] The average adult size is about 2.8 to 5 mm long and they are oval, dark brown to shiny-black in color, and have brown legs.[22][24]

Varied carpet beetle

The varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, attacks typical household objects. Carpet beetles are normally associated with things such as carpets, wool, furs, and any processed animal or plant food. Their appetite also includes dead insects, spiders, and even nectar and pollen. They are typically found throughout the United States and Canada.[25] Females can lay up to 40 eggs and the number of larval instars is seven or eight. The time it takes to become an adult varies from about eight months to a year. In addition, the adults can live around 2 to 6 weeks. This species varies in shape, size, color, and pattern of scales. On average, the adults are 2 to 3 mm in length and have scales that vary from white, brown, yellow, or even gray-yellow.[24] The hairs of the larvae can cause allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis or blisters in humans who come into contact with the sharp tiny hairs.

Khapra beetle

On hatching, the larvae of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) are around 1.6 to 1.8 mm long and mostly covered with dense setae, some simple and some barbed. Larvae are yellow-white but the head and body setae are brown. As the larvae further develop, their color changes to a golden or reddish brown and the abdomen portion becomes proportionally shorter. The mature larvae reach a maximum length of 6 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.[26]

The khapra beetle is a stored-product pest. Infestations are difficult to control because they crawl into cracks and crevices, remaining for long periods of time.[26] They tend to infest grains and create serious losses to stored products.[4] The adults are covered with setae and are approximately 1.5 to 3 mm long and 1 to 2 mm wide. Male khapra beetles are brown to black with reddish brown markings on the elytra. Females are slightly larger and are lighter in color. The short, 11 segmented antennae has a club of 3 to 5 segments, which fit into a groove on the side of the pronotum.[26]

Control

Hide and larder beetles

Modern methods of meat slaughtering, storage, and distribution have reduced potential infestations of hide beetles. Proper housekeeping is crucial for the prevention of infestations. Dead insects in homes usually attract these beetles because they are a prime food source for hide and larder beetles. Food must be tightly sealed or stored in a refrigerator to avoid any beetle access. Freezing food for a week or heating meat in a pan or microwave for prolonged lengths can kill insects found in infested foods and prevent them from spreading.[18]

Household fibers, such as wool and silk, are especially prone to moth damage and special cleaning, which includes moth proofing, needs to be done frequently. Application of insecticides must be by spot treatment to crack and crevice sites where they are suspected of hiding. Pyrethrins are labeled for use against hide beetles. Insecticides used for carpet beetles are also appropriate to use against hide and larder beetles.[18]

Carpet beetles

Regular cleaning of spilled food or lint will eliminate any sites for potential breeding. Susceptible items like food, woolens, and furs should be stored in an insect-proof container. If an infestation is suspected then the source of the problem must be removed and destroyed to further limit any possibility of spreading. These beetles can be killed with extreme heat or exposure to freezers.[27]

Pyrethroid insecticides can be used to control carpet beetles. These contain active ingredients such as permethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin and tralomethrin.[27]

Diatomaceous earth is also effective.[28][29]

Image gallery

  • The grub of a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius)
    The grub of a larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius)
  • Dermestidae damage to a Manduca quinquemaculata in an insect collection
    Dermestidae damage to a Manduca quinquemaculata in an insect collection
  • The larva of Anthrenus verbasci beetle
    The larva of Anthrenus verbasci beetle
  • The larva of an Anthrenus verbasci beetle, frass, cast skin & a single grain of blue rodent bait damaged by the larva
    The larva of an Anthrenus verbasci beetle, frass, cast skin & a single grain of blue rodent bait damaged by the larva
  • Carpet beetle damaging a Sceliphron destillatorius in an insect collection
    Carpet beetle damaging a Sceliphron destillatorius in an insect collection

References

  1. ^ a b Háva, Jiří (2021). "Dermestidae world (Coleoptera)". Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  2. ^ VanClay, Mary. "Bitten By the Bug". www.johnsonstring.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Byrd, Jason H.; Castner, James L., eds. (2009-09-11). Forensic Entomology (2 ed.). CRC Press. doi:10.1201/noe0849392153. ISBN 978-0-367-80569-2.
  5. ^ a b c d Ruzzier, Enrico; Kadej, Marcin; Battisti, Andrea (2020-01-23). "Occurrence, ecological function and medical importance of dermestid beetle hastisetae". PeerJ. 8: e8340. doi:10.7717/peerj.8340. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 6983295. PMID 32002326.
  6. ^ Forensic Entomology: Use of Insects to Help Solve Crime. Forensic Investigations.
  7. ^ P.G. Koehler and F.M. Oi (1991). Carpet Beetles. University of Florida IFAS Extension
  8. ^ Walker, K. (2008). Hide Beetle Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Pest and Diseases Image Library
  9. ^ Catts, E. P.; Goff, M. L. (1992). "Forensic entomology in criminal investigations". Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37: 252–272. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345. PMID 1539937.
  10. ^ Goff, M. L. (1993). "Estimation of postmortem interval using arthropod development and successional patterns". Forensic Sci. Rev. 5 (2): 82–94. PMID 26270076.
  11. ^ Richards, E. N.; Goff, M. L. (1997). "Arthropod succession on exposed carrion in three contrasting tropical habitats on Hawaii Islands, Hawaii". J. Med. Entomol. 34 (3): 328–339. doi:10.1093/jmedent/34.3.328. PMID 9151499.
  12. ^ Vitta, A.; et al. (2007). "A preliminary study on insects associated with pig (Sus scrofa) carcasses in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand". Tropical Biomedicine. 24 (2): 1–5. PMID 18209701.
  13. ^ Velazquez, Yelitza (2008). "A checklist of arthropods associated with rat carrion in a montane locality of northern Venezuela". Forensic Science International. 174 (1): 67–69. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.02.020. hdl:10045/2790. PMID 17386987.
  14. ^ Richardson, M. S.; Goff, M. L. (2001). "Effects of Temperature and Intraspecific Interaction on the Development of Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)". J. Med. Entomol. 38 (3): 347–351. doi:10.1603/0022-2585-38.3.347. PMID 11372957. S2CID 38207950.
  15. ^ a b Motyka, Michal; Kusy, Dominik; Háva, Jiří; Jahodářová, Eva; Bílková, Renata; Vogler, Alfried P.; Bocak, Ladislav (January 2022). "Mitogenomic data elucidate the phylogeny and evolution of life strategies in Dermestidae (Coleoptera)". Systematic Entomology. 47 (1): 82–93. doi:10.1111/syen.12520. ISSN 0307-6970.
  16. ^ Deng, Congshuang; Ślipiński, Adam; Ren, Dong; Pang, Hong (March 2017). "The Oldest Dermestid Beetle from the Middle Jurassic of China (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)". Annales Zoologici. 67 (1): 109–112. doi:10.3161/00034541ANZ2017.67.1.012. ISSN 0003-4541.
  17. ^ Larder Beetle Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. University of Rhode Island Green Share Factsheets.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h Lyon, W. F. Hide and Larder Beetles. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.
  19. ^ a b c d e Beetle Identification Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Pest Solutions Plus.
  20. ^ a b Genus Dermestes. BugGuide.
  21. ^ Bennett, S. M. (2003). Dermestes maculatus.
  22. ^ a b Lyon, William F. Carpet Beetle. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.
  23. ^ Dermestid Beetle Archived 2008-02-22 at the Wayback Machine. Texas A&M University Entomology.
  24. ^ a b c Exploring California Insects: Carpet or Museum Beetles Archived 2008-05-14 at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ McLarin, Jim (February 2007). "Species Anthrenus verbasci - Varied Carpet Beetle". Bug Guide.
  26. ^ a b c Harris, D.L. (2006) Khapra Beetle. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
  27. ^ a b Cranshaw, W.S. (2000). Carpet Beetles. Colorado University State-Extension.
  28. ^ Lyon, William F. "Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Carpet Beetle". HYG-2103-97. Columbus: The Ohio State University. Archived from the original on 2001-04-25. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  29. ^ "Black Carpet Beetle" (PDF). Insect Advice from Extension: Fact Sheets. Penn State University: College of Agricultural Sciences. 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-27.

Further reading

  • John M. Kingsolver, "Dermestidae", in Ross H. Arnett Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2002), vol. 2.
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Ward, Artemas (1911). The Grocer's Encyclopedia. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Pasquerault, T Vincent, B, Chauvet, B, Dourel, L, and Gaudry, E (2008). Répartition des espèces du genre Dermestes L. 1758 récoltés sur des cadavres humains (Coleoptera Dermestidae). L'entomologiste Tome 64 N°4 pp 221–224.
  • Hinton, H.E., 1945 A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products. 1, 387–395 British Museum (Natural History), London. Keys to world adults and larvae, genera and species; excellent figures, full species information.
  • Freude, H.; Harde, K.W.; Lohse, G.A., 1979 Dermestidae. Die Käfer Mitteleuropas 6: Diversicornia (Lycidae — Byrrhidae) 1206 text figs. 367pp. Goecke & Evers. Text in German; the Dermestidae are on pages 304–327.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Dermestidae.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dermestidae.
This page was last edited on 22 April 2024, at 20:03
Basis of this page is in Wikipedia. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported License. Non-text media are available under their specified licenses. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. WIKI 2 is an independent company and has no affiliation with Wikimedia Foundation.
Contact WIKI 2
Introduction
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy