Adistemia watsoni
(Wollaston, 1871)
Household Fungus Beetle, minute brown scavenger beetle
Adistemia watsoni is a minute beetle in the Latridiidae, commonly known as the Household . It has been recorded feeding on fungal conidia in stored product environments, particularly on Penicillium growing on stored plums and corn. The has a broad distribution spanning Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North America, and has been introduced to some oceanic islands including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Galápagos.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Adistemia watsoni: /ædɪˈstiːmiə ˈwɒtsəni/
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Images
Habitat
Stored product environments; specifically associated with stored plums and corn colonized by fungi. Also found in general household and indoor settings given its .
Distribution
Northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt), most of Europe including Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark), parts of Asia (Israel, Japan), and North America (Canada: Ontario, Quebec). Present on oceanic islands including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Galápagos Islands.
Diet
Conidia of Penicillium developing on stored commodities.
Ecological Role
Fungus feeder in stored product and indoor environments; contributes to fungal spore consumption in human-associated .
Human Relevance
Pest of stored products; recorded feeding on moldy plums and corn. Presence in households indicated by . New country record for Greece documented in stored product survey.