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| FACTS
& CONTROL |
| Varied
Carpet Beetle |
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COMMON
NAME:
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Varied
carpet beetle
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SCIENTIFIC
NAME:
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Anthrenus
verbasci (Linnaeus)
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CLASS/ORDER/FAMILY:
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Insecta/Coleoptera/Dermestidae
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METAMORPHOSIS:
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Complete
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INTRODUCTION:
The varied carpet beetle probably gets its common name
because there is great variation in the color pattern on its
dorsal surface. This species is known to cause dermatitis in
humans. It is worldwide in distribution and is found
throughout the United States.
RECOGNITION:
Adults about 1/16-1/8" (1.8-3.2 mm) long. Body black,
with pattern of yellow and white scales on pronotum and
elytra (wing covers), 2 transverse zigzag bands of white
scales bordered by yellow scales on elytra; scales elongate,
2-3 times as long as broad; lower/underside of body covered
with grayish yellow scales. Antennae short, with
3-segmented, compact club. Posterior end of elytra evenly
rounded. Abdominal 5th sternite broadly and deeply
emarginate (notched) epically. In addition, body oval, head
more or less concealed from above, with a median ocellus,
and tarsi 5-5-5. Larval length up to 1/4" (4-5 mm).
Stout, widest posteriorly. Color dark brown to black.
Covered with brown hairs; with tufts of spear-headed hairs (hastisetae)
arising from membranous areas on the sides of abdominal
segments 5-6-7 pointing towards the rear and converging
towards the center, heads of spear-headed hairs of hind
tufts equal in length to combined length of 7-8 preceding
segments. Antennae with segment 2 less than 2.5 times as
long as broad. Abdominal sternites entirely membranous.
SIMILAR
GROUPS: (1) Carpet beetles (Anthrenus schrophulariae)
with brick red scales along midline of elytra (wing covers).
(2) Furniture carpet beetles (Anthrenus flavipes) with
pronotum and elytra patterned with white, yellow, and brown
scales, underside of body pure white, posterior end of
elytra with shallow notch at midline. (3) Other dermestids (Dermestidae)
with less compact antenna! club of usually more than 3
segments, hairs on dorsal surface somewhat flattened but not
scalelike, and/or 5th abdominal sternite not deeply notched
epically. (4) Powderpost/deathwatch/anobiid beetles (Anobiidae)
with antenna longer, if clubbed, then club asymmetrical
(lopsided). (5) Other beetles with oval body form lack a
median ocellus and/or lack scalelike hairs.
DAMAGE AND
SIGNS OF INFESTATION: Fabrics typically have much
surface damage and holes here and there, but larvae can
cause large irregular holes in material. Furs and brushes
have mostly the tips of hairs damaged, leaving uneven areas.
With museum insect specimens, the accumulation of fine
powder/frass beneath the specimen is often the only
indication of these beetle's presence. Larval caste/molt
skins are often present. Frass/droppings are minute,
irregular in form, often the color of the material being
damaged. The larvae may burrow through packaging materials
when seeking food.
BIOLOGY:
Females do not always lay their eggs on larval food
material. The eggs hatch in 17-18 days. The larval period
ranges from 222-323 days but may last up to 623 days under
adverse conditions of temperature, humidity, and food, and
requires an average of 7-8 molts (range 5-16).  The larva
pupates in the last larval skin and pupation lasts 10-13
days. Developmental time (egg to adult) usually requires
249-354 days at room temperature, but may take as long as
2-3 years depending on temperature and food. Adult males
live 13-28 days whereas, females live 14-44 days.
One case of
dermatitis occurred in a man over a 5-year period due to
hypersensitivity to an infestation in his bedroom carpet.
Inhalation of large quantities of the larval spear-headed
hairs may cause pulmonary irritation; Anthrenus spp. are
known to cause this condition.
HABITS:
Varied carpet beetle larvae feed on a wide variety of animal
and plant products. Animal-origin materials include woolens,
carpets, furs, hides, feathers, horns, bones, hair, silk,
fish meal, insect pupae, and dead insects. Plant-origin
materials include rye meal, corn, red pepper, cacao,
cereals, etc. Their favored foods are insects and spiders
which makes them a major pest of museum collections and
buildings with cluster fly, box elder bug, etc. problems.
On fabrics,
larvae tend to surface graze but are quite capable of making
small or large irregular holes. On furs and bristles, they
damage mostly the tips leaving uneven areas. On dead
insects, they typically feed from within and the
accumulation of fine powder/frass beneath the specimen is
usually the only indication of their presence. The larvae
may burrow through packaging materials to get to the
contained food.
Adults are
found outside during warm weather. They are often found on
flowers, particularly in the spring and especially on Spirea
spp., where they often eat the pollen. Females seek out the
nests of bees, wasps, and spiders as oviposition sites, as
well as bird nests. Inside, adults are often found at
windows during the spring.
The primary
breeding areas are quite diverse and may include obscure or
unusual places such as wall/ceiling voids where yellow
jackets, honey bees, etc. Dived or where cluster flies, box
elder bugs, etc. over wintered, rodent bait left in attics,
crawl spaces, or basements; wasp and hornet nests in attics,
under eaves, around windows, etc.; dead insects and spiders
in the attic or in light fixtures; behind and under
baseboards where lint and hair accumulate; animal trophies
or rugs; insulation which contains animal hair; dead animals
in the chimney flue; etc. In such places, the larvae feed on
the animal and/or plant material present.
The larvae
tend to wander about and can be found far from the primary
infestation. When disturbed, the larva erect their hair
tufts and spread the bristles and hairs, forming a ball.
Adults
hatching from indoor pupae avoid or shun light until egg
laying is mostly complete, and then become attracted to
light. Most outdoor adults show an attraction to light.
CONTROL:
The key to controlling varied carpet beetles is to find the
primary source(s) of infestation and eliminate it/them.
Besides the obvious clothing, furs, drapes, carpeting, and
stored products, it may be necessary to check for the more
unusual places such as those listed above. Has there been
both current and past occurrences of flies in the winter,
box elder bugs, rodent problems, birds nesting on/in the
building, etc. The thorough inspection should be followed by
good sanitation practices, and pesticide application when
required. Museum specimens may be treated with heat and/or
cold if applicable (be careful of possible damage to
specimens) or with fumigants.
Courtesy
of NPMA |
The adult is 2.8 - 5
mm in length. It is mostly dark brown to black in color. The
larvae is long
and carrot shaped with a tuft of hairs emerging from the rear end.
Food: The larvae of this pest will feed upon a great
variety of animal and plant products, such as carpets, felt,
woolen goods, skins, furs, stuffed animals, leather book
bindings, feathers, horns, hair, silk, cattle hair, and insect
meal. Also it will attack plant products such as seeds and
grains, corn and cayenne peppers. Specifically in museums, it
will attack insect and ethnographic collections.
Life Cycle:
The female Black Carpet Beetle will lay
42 - 114 eggs near a possible food source. The larval stage is
the destructive stage. The period from egg to adult will last
about 1 year, possibly more depending on environment.
Trap Use and
Placement: Pheromone lures are available for this pest to
attract the male of the species. They are good fliers, so any
hanging sticky trap or shelve trap with a fresh pheromone lure
will work.
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For most people, the boxelder bugs needs no
introduction. This insect is about one
-half
inch long as an adult, black in color with three
red lines behind the head, a red line along each
side and a diagonal line on each wing. Box elder
bugs become a nuisance in and around homes from
fall through early spring.
Box
elder bugs feed on a variety of plants, but their
favorite food is box elder seed pods, which are
found only on the female box elder tree. These
insects seldom develop in sufficient numbers to be
a nuisance unless a female box elder tree is in
the neighborhood.
The
boxelder bugs overwinters as an adult in protected
places such as houses and other buildings, cracks
or crevices in walls, doors, under windows, and
around foundations--particularly on south and west
exposures. In the spring, small red eggs are laid
on leaves and stones, and in cracks and crevices
in the bark of female box elder trees. The eggs
later hatch into young nymphs that are wingless
and bright red in color wtih some black markings.
These young bugs usually are found on low
vegetation near box elder trees until seeds are
formed on the tree that they then start to feed
on.
Box
elder bugs are primarily a nuisance pest, annoying
residents by crawling on exteriors and inside
dwellings on warm fall and winter days. They also
could stain draperies and other light-colored
surfaces and produce an unpleasant odor when
crushed. They do not bite people, nor will they
damage houseplants.
The
most permanent solution to the box elder bug
problem would be complete removal of female box
elder trees from a neighborhood, although this may
not be practical or desirable. Since box elder
bugs usually overwinter near the trees they feed
on, the removal of one or two problem trees may be
of benefit to the homeowner. Infested trees may be
sprayed with an insecticide listed for this use
while the bugs are still concentrated on the
trees, before they move into the house. When the
bugs begin to congregate on dwelling exteriors,
these areas may be treated with a residual
insecticide
See Beetles for an insecticide
listed
for this type of control. (Make sure you read the
insecticide label carefully and always test a
hidden area to make sure the product doesn't
stain).
Screening
or sealing cracks (Copper
Stuf-fit) or other entrances into the home
(in the fall BEFORE it gets cold) is important
because once box elder bugs have entered the home,
control becomes more difficult. A vacuum cleaner
is useful for controlling bugs that have entered
the house. This is temporary relief because the
box elder bugs may continue to enter and move
about on warmer days throughout the fall, winter
and early spring.
Courtesy
of (Mary Jane Frogge, Extension Associate of Univ.
Of Nebraska)
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| Lyctids/Powderpost
Beetles |
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COMMON
NAME: |
Lyctid
or powderpost beetle |
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SCIENTIFIC
NAME: |
Various |
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CLASS/ORDER/FAMILY: |
Insecta/Coleoptera/Lyctidae |
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METAMORPHOSIS: |
Complete |
INTRODUCTION.
Lyctids are commonly known as (true)
powderpost beetles because their
larvae produce a very fine, powderlike
frass in their galleries (vs.
bostrichids/false powderpost beetles
and anobiids, whose larvae produce
coarser frass which also contains fine
wood fragments or pellets
respectively). They are worldwide in
distribution, with about 11 species
occurring in the United States.
RECOGNITION.
Depending on the species, adults about
1/32-1/4" (1-7 mm) long. Body elongate,
narrow, flattened,
almost parallel-sided;
head, pronotum, and elytra (wing
covers) about equal in width; pronotum
somewhat wider at front, head
and often mandibles visible
when viewed from above. Color reddish
brown to black. Antennae with
abrupt 2-segmented club. Elytra
(wing covers) often with rows of
hairs (setae). First abdominal
segment ventrally much longer than
other segments.
Depending
on the species, mature larvae up to
about 1/4" (6 mm) long. Color
nearly white. Body C-shaped but with
enlarged thorax. Antennae short,
4-segmented. Spiracle of 8th
(last) abdominal segment 3 times
larger than other abdominal spiracles.
Legs 3-segmented, ending with a long
claw. However, 1st instar
larva straight-bodied, white, and
bears a pair of small spines at rear
end.
SIMILAR
GROUPS. (1) Flat bark beetles (Cucujidae)
with antennae usually long and
threadlike/beadlike, sometimes short
with 2-4-segmented club, elytra (wing
covers) usually lack hairs. (2) False
powderpost beetles (Bostrichidae)
usually cylindrical in form, pronotum
with rasplike teeth at front, head
usually not visible from above. (3)
Bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytidae)
are cylindrical in form, antennae
elbowed and clubbed. (4) Pinhole
borers and ambrosia beetles (Platypodidae)
cylindrical in form, antenna! club
large, flat, 1-segmented. (5)
Deathwatch beetles (Anobiidae) with
hoodlike prothorax, concealing head
from above, last 3 antenna! segments
lengthened and/or expanded.
DAMAGE
AND SIGNS OF INFESTATION. Exit
holes are round, and depending on the
species, range from 1/32-1/16"
(0.8-1.6 mm) in diameter. Another
indication of an infestation is the
accumulation of piles of very fine
powderlike dust beneath the exit holes
or on the wood. This dust/frass
contains no pellets (like anobiid's)
and falls easily from the hole instead
of being packed in (like anobiids and
bostrichids).
REPRESENTATIVE
SPECIES. From an economic
viewpoint, the 2 most important
Iyctids in the U.S. can be briefly
characterized as follows:
- Southern
Iyctus beetle, Lyctus
planicollis LeConte. Adults
black; antennal 10th
segment wider than long; prothorax
usually with a median, broad,
shallow depression; elytra (wing
covers) with space between striae
(longitudinal furrows) composed of
2 regular series of elongate
punctures (pits) and separated by
rows of fine, long hairs; length
about 1/4" (5 mm) but males
much smaller; distributed
throughout the United States.
- Velvety
powderpost beetle, Trogoxylon
parallelopipedum (Melsheimer).
Adults rusty red-brown to black,
densely covered with short
yellowish hairs not arranged in
rows; antenna! 10th
segment not wider than long;
lateral margins of prothoax
converge behind (towards wing
covers); length about 1/8"
(2.5-4.3 mm); found throughout the
United States.
BIOLOGY.
Female Iyctids lay their eggs (15-50)
in exposed wood pores, cracks, or
crevices. Eggs are never deposited
in/on waxed, polished, painted, or
varnished surfaces. The larvae tunnel
only in the sapwood and usually tunnel
with the wood grain. As they bore, the
larvae loosely pack their tunnels with
very fine powderlike dust (like talcum
powder or flour). After several molts
requiring 2-9 months, the mature larva
bores to near the surface and
constructs a pupal chamber and
pupates. When the adult emerges, it
bores straight to the wood's surface
and exits/emerges. Indoors, adults
usually emerge in late winter or early
spring and with little feeding, mate.
Under very favorable conditions,
developmental time (egg to adult)
usually requires 9-12 months, but may
be as short as 3-4 months or as long
as 2.5-4 or more years. Although some
Iyctids are strong fliers, most tend
to lay eggs in the wood from which
they emerged. Since Iyctid larvae
cannot digest cellulose, they feed
only on the cell contents which is
primarily starch, but also sugar and
protein.
HABITS.
Lyctids attack the sapwood and only
that of hardwoods, usually less than
10 years old. They attack both lumber
and manufactured products; they also
attack structural timbers but
hardwoods are rarely used for this
purpose today because of their cost.
The wood moisture content required for
beetle development is 8-32%, with
greatest activity at 10-20%. Adults
are active at night, readily fly, and
are attracted to light.
Lyctids
are usually brought into structures in
wood which contains their eggs and/or
larvae. This wood is typically
infested during drying time or
storage. Finish on wood prevents egg
laying.
They
usually attack oak, hickory, and ash,
but will attack other native and
tropical hardwoods. Lyctids often
attack bamboo.
CONTROL.
First, determine if the infestation is
active. If it is, then prescribe
replacement, localized pesticide
application, or fumigation, whichever
is the least expensive to achieve
control.
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http://www.ladybugcontrol.com
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