Death-watch and Spider Beetles
Ptinidae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Bostrichoidea
- Family: Ptinidae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ptinidae: /ˈtaɪnɪˌdiː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
The Ptinidae family, also known as deathwatch and spider beetles, contains numerous small beetles that are hard to define taxonomically due to their compact forms. Predominantly wood-borers, they have significant economic impact as pests in various settings.
Physical Characteristics
1–9 mm in size, usually smaller than 5 mm; hard-to-define compact body structure with similar morphologies within genera and species.
Identification Tips
Difficult to identify due to small size and compact body; look for long legs and antennae that may resemble an additional pair of legs in spider beetles.
Habitat
Predominantly found in wood; larvae are typically wood-borers and adults feed on a variety of dry plant or animal materials.
Distribution
Over 400 species in 63 genera in North America; more than 2,200 species in approximately 230 genera worldwide, with representatives in all but one tiny Neotropical subfamily.
Diet
Larvae feed on wood and a variety of dry plant materials, including dried fungi and dung; some species are pests of stored products like grain and tobacco.
Life Cycle
Life cycle includes wood-boring larvae, which develop in wood or dried plant materials, with adults emerging from infested materials.
Reproduction
Reproduction involves mating calls often noted in deathwatch beetles to attract mates.
Ecosystem Role
Important as decomposers breaking down dry plant materials; some species affect the structural integrity of wooden materials, influencing habitat dynamics.
Economic Impact
Several species are significant pests, damaging wooden structures, furniture, and stored food products, leading to substantial economic losses.
Cultural Significance
Deathwatch beetles historically associated with fears of impending death due to their mating calls in homes during times of plague and sickness.
Collecting Methods
- Light traps
- Pitfall traps
- Manual collection
Preservation Methods
- Drying
- Ethanol preservation
- Pinned specimens
Evolution
Underwent frequent changes in classification; treated variably as independent families or as subfamilies under Anobiidae.
Similar Taxa
- Bostrichidae
- Anobiidae
Misconceptions
The clicking noise of deathwatch beetles is often misinterpreted as an omen of death.
Tags
- beetles
- Ptinidae
- wood-borers
- pests