Dermestid
Guides
Anthrenus castaneae
Anthrenus castaneae is a carpet beetle species in the family Dermestidae. First described by Melsheimer in 1844, it is native to North America with records from Canada and the United States. The species was historically placed in the subgenus Florilinus. Larval specimens have been documented in association with spider egg sacs and retreats, representing a distinctive host relationship among carpet beetles.
Anthrenus coloratus
Asian carpet beetle
Anthrenus coloratus is a small beetle species in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the Asian carpet beetle. It has been documented as a pest of entomological collections, where it damages dried insect specimens. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and has been introduced to Ecuador.
Anthrenus fuscus
Mill Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus fuscus is a small carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the Mill Carpet Beetle. It occurs in North America and Europe, with populations in southern Britain showing peak abundance near agricultural areas. Adults are found on flowers during summer months, while larvae feed on dead insects in natural habitats such as spiders' webs and under tree bark. The species exhibits sharply defined habitat separation from the closely related A. verbasci.
Anthrenus isabellinus
Anthrenus isabellinus is a carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa. The species has been introduced to the eastern United States. Like other Anthrenus carpet beetles, its larvae feed on dried animal products including keratin-based materials. Historical taxonomic confusion with the related A. pimpinellae has complicated understanding of its true distribution.
Anthrenus museorum
museum beetle
Anthrenus museorum is a small dermestid beetle commonly known as the museum beetle. Adults measure 2–4 mm with round bodies and dark elytra bearing bright colored spots. The larval stage is the primary damaging form, feeding on dry animal materials including skin, hair, feathers, and occasionally dry food products like cheese, flour, or cocoa. The species is native to Europe and has become globally distributed through commercial trade, now occurring across the Palearctic, Near East, Nearctic, and other regions including China and Australia. It is a significant pest in museums, where larvae damage taxidermy specimens and insect collections.
Anthrenus pimpinellae
Anthrenus pimpinellae is a small carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, native to the Palaearctic region but introduced to North America. Adults measure 3–4 mm and have black elytra with white and brown scales. The species exhibits selective flower-feeding behavior, with mating occurring exclusively on preferred floral hosts. Larvae feed on dried animal products including keratin-containing materials.
Anthrenus verbasci
Varied Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus verbasci is a cosmopolitan pest species in the family Dermestidae, commonly known as the varied carpet beetle. Adults are small (2–4 mm), rounded beetles with distinctive patterned elytra bearing bands or spots of brown, black, and white scales. Larvae are covered in dense setae and feed on dried proteinaceous material, causing damage to household items, museum collections, and stored agricultural products. The species exhibits circannual control of its life cycle, with photoperiod serving as the primary zeitgeber for synchronizing pupation and adult emergence in spring. Adults feed on pollen and nectar, particularly from umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae) and Asteraceae, and use both olfaction and vision in host plant selection.
Attagenus schaefferi
carpet beetle
Attagenus schaefferi is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, distributed across North America. It belongs to the subfamily Attageninae and is one of nine Attagenus species recognized north of Mexico. The species was originally described as Megatoma schaeferi by Herbst in 1792. Two subspecies have been recognized: A. s. hypar Beal, 1970 and A. s. spurcus LeConte, 1874. Like other carpet beetles, it is commonly associated with dried animal products and household environments.
Dearthrus stebbinsi
carpet beetle
Dearthrus stebbinsi is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, first described by Beal in 1954. The species is currently recognized as a synonym of Globicornis stebbinsi by some taxonomic authorities, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revision within this group of beetles. It is known from western North America, with confirmed records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of Dermestidae, it belongs to a family characterized by larvae that feed on keratinous materials.
Dermestes ater
black larder beetle, incinerator beetle
Dermestes ater is a cosmopolitan dermestid beetle native to North America but now found nearly worldwide. Adults measure 7–9 mm with black or brown elytra covered in yellowish hairs; males are distinguished by a row of bristles along the abdomen. The species is a significant pest of stored products, feeding on dried animal and plant materials including cured meats, cheeses, leather, wool, and fish. It also functions as an occasional predator and scavenger, consuming dead insects, carrion, and even silkworm pupae. The beetle has forensic importance due to its presence on human corpses, and veterinary significance as a vector of parasites in poultry facilities.
Dermestes caninus
carpet beetle
Dermestes caninus is a carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, found in North America and Oceania. The species has been studied for forensic importance alongside the more well-known Dermestes maculatus, though it has little biological information available and no published case report records. Research indicates intraspecific larval aggregation behavior and diet type significantly affect its life-history traits.
Dermestes fasciatus
carpet beetle
Dermestes fasciatus is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with decomposing animal matter, though specific ecological details for this species are poorly documented.
Dermestes frischii
Fringed Larder Beetle
Dermestes frischii is a hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, 6–9.5 mm long, black to dark brown with yellowish-white hairs on the pronotum sides. It is a significant pest of stored animal products including dried meat, fish, cheese, fur, and leather, and also damages wood, cork, and plaster when seeking pupation sites. The species is widely used in forensic entomology to estimate post-mortem intervals, particularly for corpses in hot, dry conditions where it colonizes remains during advanced decay stages. Males are distinguished from females by a tuft of black-brown hairs on the fourth abdominal sternite.
Dermestes lardarius
larder beetle, moisture bug, bacon beetle
Dermestes lardarius, commonly known as the larder beetle or bacon beetle, is a cosmopolitan pest of stored animal products. Adults measure 7–9 mm and are distinguished by a broad yellowish band with three black dots across dark brown elytra. The species completes its life cycle in 40–50 days under optimal conditions but typically produces one generation per year. Both larvae and adults feed on dried meats, pet food, hides, feathers, cheese, and museum specimens.
Dermestes maculatus
hide beetle, skin beetle, flesh-eating beetle
Dermestes maculatus is a cosmopolitan hide beetle with worldwide distribution on all continents except Antarctica. Adults are 5.5–10 mm, black with distinctive white hair bands on the pronotum. The species is a specialized decomposer of dry animal tissues, with physiological adaptations enabling survival on desiccated carrion where competitors fail. It holds significant forensic value for estimating postmortem intervals and is widely used by museums and universities for skeleton preparation. Larvae are densely setose with paired urogomphi on the terminal segment.
Dermestes marmoratus
common carrion beetle
Dermestes marmoratus, commonly known as the common carrion beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America, with records from southern California through the southwest, southern Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains states. The species is associated with carrion and bones in advanced stages of decomposition, where it feeds on dried animal remains.
Dermestes rattus
Dermestes rattus is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, described by LeConte in 1854. The species is currently listed as taxonomically doubtful in major databases. As a member of the genus Dermestes, it belongs to a group of scavenging beetles commonly employed in forensic entomology and museum specimen preparation for cleaning skeletal remains. The specific biology and ecology of D. rattus remain poorly documented compared to better-known congeners such as D. maculatus and D. lardarius.
Dermestes sardous
Dermestes sardous is a species of hide beetle in the family Dermestidae, a group of scavengers important as stored product pests, ecosystem recyclers, and forensic tools. Like other members of the genus Dermestes, this species is associated with carrion and dried animal remains. The species is known from North America, including the conterminous United States. As part of the subfamily Dermestinae, it shares the general characteristics of the genus: elongated body form, clubbed antennae, and association with decomposing animal matter.
Dermestes talpinus
hide and tallow dermestid
Dermestes talpinus, commonly known as the hide and tallow dermestid, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is native to North America and has been documented from dry bones and carrion in advanced stages of decomposition. The species is smaller than many congeners and can be distinguished by its distinctive scale pattern: gold or coppery scales on the pronotum and silvery scales on the elytra.
Novelsis picta
Novelsis picta is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae, first described by Casey in 1900. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented. Like other dermestid beetles, it likely shares general characteristics of the family, including a compact body form and association with organic materials.
Novelsis uteana
Novelsis uteana is a carpet beetle species in the family Dermestidae, first described by Casey in 1900. It is known to occur in North America. The genus Novelsis is part of a diverse group of dermestid beetles commonly referred to as carpet beetles, which are known for their association with keratinous materials.
Reesa
Reesa is a monotypic genus of skin beetles (Dermestidae) established by Beal in 1967. The sole species, Reesa vespulae, is a small beetle native to North America that has become a widespread invasive pest of heritage collections and stored products. The species is obligately parthenogenetic—only females are known—and can establish populations from a single individual. Genetic research suggests close relationship to Trogoderma angustum and South American species, with some authors proposing merger into Eurhopalus, though this remains disputed.
Reesa vespulae
Undertaker Carpet Beetle
Reesa vespulae is a small parthenogenetic dermestid beetle native to North America that has become a cosmopolitan pest of heritage collections and stored products. The species spreads globally through human commerce and can establish populations from a single female due to obligate parthenogenesis. It poses significant threats to museums, herbaria, and entomological collections, with larvae showing particular preference for Coleoptera and Lepidoptera specimens.
Trogoderma anthrenoides
Trogoderma anthrenoides is a stored-product pest beetle in the family Dermestidae. Laboratory studies indicate it develops between 17.5-37.5°C at 70% relative humidity, with optimal egg production at 27.5°C. The species has been assessed as having only minor pest potential compared to more damaging relatives like T. granarium. Some larvae enter facultative diapause under adverse conditions. The species has been recorded in North America, Oceania, and Colombia.
Trogoderma inclusum
larger cabinet beetle
Trogoderma inclusum, commonly known as the larger cabinet beetle, is a stored product pest in the family Dermestidae. It has a broad global distribution spanning Africa, Europe, Northern Asia, North America, Oceania, and Southern Asia. Research indicates it is more resistant to long-term mating delays than its congener Trogoderma variabile, maintaining higher egg production and progeny emergence as females age. The species is a target for integrated pest management strategies including mating disruption and insecticide-incorporated netting.
Trogoderma variabile
warehouse beetle
Trogoderma variabile, commonly known as the warehouse beetle, is a stored product pest in the family Dermestidae. Adults are small beetles averaging about 3.2 mm in length with variable coloration ranging from reddish-brown to dark brown or blackish-brown. The species is highly polyphagous, infesting a wide range of dry goods including cereal products, animal feeds, spices, and nuts. It has been introduced globally and is now established across Europe, Asia, Central America, North America, and Oceania, where it causes significant economic damage in warehouses, granaries, and food storage facilities.