Banded Black Carpet Beetle
Attagenus fasciatus
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Bostrichoidea
- Family: Dermestidae
- Tribe: Attagenini
- Genus: Attagenus
- Species: fasciatus
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Attagenus fasciatus: //ˌætəˈdʒiːnəs ˌfæsiˈeɪtəs//
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Summary
Attagenus fasciatus, commonly known as the banded black carpet beetle, tobacco seed beetle, or wardrobe beetle, is a species in the family Dermestidae. It is a pest associated with stored food products and is found nearly cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions.
Physical Characteristics
Size ranges from 3.6 to 5.8 mm.
Identification Tips
Identified by its banded appearance and association with carpets and stored products.
Habitat
Occurs both outdoors and indoors, often found in places where organic products are available.
Distribution
Native to the Old World but now nearly cosmopolitan in warmer regions; known from a few locations in the US, and widespread in North America, Oceania, and Europe.
Diet
Larvae feed on wool, fur, skins, and other materials of animal origin; also feeds on dried milk, spices, and drugs.
Ecosystem Role
Pest of stored food; may also act as a scavenger in specific environments.
Economic Impact
Considered a pest in stored products.
Tags
- Attagenus fasciatus
- Banded Black Carpet Beetle
- Tobacco Seed Beetle
- Wardrobe Beetle
- Dermestidae