Spider-beetle
Guides
Colposternus
Colposternus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, first described by Fall in 1905. The genus contains at least one described species, C. tenuilineatus. Members of Ptinidae are commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles, though specific ecological details for Colposternus remain undocumented.
Corticaria ferruginea
Rusty Spider Beetle
Corticaria ferruginea is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as spider beetles. The species was described by Marsham in 1802 and is characterized by its small size and ferruginous (rust-colored) appearance. It belongs to a family of beetles typically associated with moist, decaying organic matter and fungal environments. The species has a Holarctic distribution, with records from multiple Canadian provinces.
Desmatogaster
Desmatogaster is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), established by Knutson in 1963. The genus contains at least one described species, D. subconnata. These beetles belong to the group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles, though specific ecological details for this genus remain poorly documented.
Dryophilodes niger
Dryophilodes niger is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae, a group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles. The genus Dryophilodes is part of a family of small beetles often associated with stored products, wood, or dry organic materials. Available records for this species are extremely limited, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. The specific biology, ecology, and distribution of D. niger remain poorly characterized in published literature.
Gnostus
Gnostus is a monotypic genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing a single described species, G. floridanus. The genus was established by Westwood in 1855. As a member of Ptinidae, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with stored products and dry organic materials.
Gnostus floridanus
Gnostus floridanus is a spider beetle (family Ptinidae) described by Blatchley in 1930. The species is known from new geographic records extending its previously documented range. Behavioral observations have been published in primary literature, though detailed ecological data remain limited.
Mezium affine
shiny spider beetle, northern spider beetle, hood spider beetle
Mezium affine is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as the shiny spider beetle or northern spider beetle. It is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere and has been introduced to Australia. The species is notable for its highly convex, oval body shape that gives it a spider-like appearance, and its larvae are significant pests of stored food products and organic materials.
Niptinus ovipennis
spider beetle
Niptinus ovipennis is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, described by Fall in 1905. It belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as spider beetles due to their rounded, compact body form and long legs that give them a superficial resemblance to spiders. The species is documented from North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly recorded in the scientific literature.
Niptus
spider beetles
Niptus is a genus of spider beetles (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) distributed across the Australian region, Palearctic (including Europe), Near East, Nearctic, and North Africa. The genus as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic; North American species have been transferred to the new genus Coleotestudus based on morphological and molecular evidence. The type species Niptus hololeucus (golden spider beetle) represents a distinct clade not closely related to the former North American members.
Niptus hololeucus
golden spider beetle
Niptus hololeucus, commonly known as the golden spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It has been used as a comparative reference in taxonomic studies to distinguish related genera, particularly in the separation of the North American genus Coleotestudus. The species is recognized as belonging to an independent clade of spider beetles that does not share a recent common ancestor with Coleotestudus.
Niptus ventriculus
Niptus ventriculus is a species of spider beetle (family Ptinidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1859. It belongs to the genus Niptus, which comprises several species of small beetles associated with stored products and dry organic materials. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Ozognathus cornutus
Acorn Anobiid
Ozognathus cornutus is a small spider beetle native to North America that has established populations across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, New Zealand, and South America. Adults are dark brown to black, measuring 1.5–2.8 mm. The species is saproxylophagous, feeding primarily on decaying wood tissues within galls formed by other insects, as well as dried fruits, vegetables, wood shavings, and insect excrements. It acts as a secondary occupant (successor) in galls of various gall-forming insects, with documented associations on at least 41 host-plant species. Despite potential to damage stored food products, the species shows strong preference for woody galls, which may limit economic impact.
Petalium bistriatum
Petalium bistriatum is a small beetle in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles), described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species includes four recognized subspecies, suggesting regional morphological variation. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with dry, decaying organic matter.
Pseudeurostus hilleri
Japanese spider beetle
Pseudeurostus hilleri is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as the Japanese spider beetle. The species has been introduced to multiple continents beyond its native range. Like other spider beetles, it possesses a rounded, compact body with long legs that create a superficial resemblance to spiders.
Pseudeurostus kelleri
Pseudeurostus kelleri is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It was described by Brown in 1959. The species is known from North America. Like other members of Ptinidae, it has a rounded, compact body form with long legs that give it a spider-like appearance.
Ptinus bicinctus
Ptinus bicinctus is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by Sturm in 1837. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, Africa, and North America, suggesting either a wide native range or human-mediated dispersal. As a member of the genus Ptinus, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with stored products and dry organic materials. The species remains poorly documented in published literature, with limited biological information available beyond distributional records.
Ptinus californicus
California spider beetle
Ptinus californicus is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is found in North America.
Ptinus fallax
Ptinus fallax is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by Fall in 1905. It is distributed across North America, with records from British Columbia and other regions. Spider beetles in this genus are typically associated with stored products, dried organic materials, and decaying matter. The specific epithet 'fallax' (meaning 'deceptive' or 'false') may allude to morphological similarities with congeners.
Ptinus falli
spider beetle
Ptinus falli is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, a group of small beetles known for their rounded, compact bodies and long, slender legs that give them a spider-like appearance. The species was described by Pic in 1904. Very little specific biological information is documented for this species beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic range.
Ptinus feminalis
Ptinus feminalis is a small beetle species in the family Ptinidae, first described by Fall in 1905. As a member of the spider beetle genus Ptinus, it is part of a group known for their compact bodies and association with stored products, though specific details about this species remain limited in published literature. The species is recorded from North America.
Ptinus fur
white-marked spider beetle, whitemarked spider beetle
Ptinus fur is a small stored-product pest beetle with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Adults measure 2.0–4.3 mm and are distinguished by red-brown coloration with yellow hairs, dense pale hairs on the prothorax, and patches of white scales on the elytra. The species is morphologically similar to Ptinus villiger. It develops optimally at 23°C, completing its life cycle in approximately 132 days on fishmeal. Larval diapause in cocoons can extend development by 220–280 days. The species is unlikely to reach large population sizes due to its long development period, small egg output (mean 38.6 eggs per female), and tendency for diapause.
Ptinus gandolphei
Ptinus gandolphei is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by Maurice Pic in 1904. It belongs to a genus known for species with elongated legs and antennae that resemble spiders in appearance. The species is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly recorded in scientific literature.
Ptinus interruptus
Ptinus interruptus is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It is native to North America. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1857. Spider beetles in this genus are associated with stored products and dry organic materials.
Ptinus raptor
eastern spider beetle
Ptinus raptor, commonly known as the eastern spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. It belongs to the genus Ptinus, a group of beetles often associated with stored products and dry organic materials. The species was first described by Sturm in 1837. Like other spider beetles, it has a rounded, compact body with long legs that give it a spider-like appearance.
Ptinus sexpunctatus
six-spotted spider beetle, six-spot spider beetle
Ptinus sexpunctatus is a small spider beetle (4–5 mm) native to the Palearctic region, now established as an invasive species in North America. It is distinguished by its uniform dark coloration with prominent white scale patches at the base and apex of the elytra, and deeply grooved elytra. The species has a commensal relationship with cavity-nesting solitary bees, with larvae developing in bee nests and feeding on host food provisions. It has been recorded as a potential pest in stored products and unheated outbuildings.
Ptinus tectus
Australian spider beetle
Ptinus tectus is a small beetle commonly known as the Australian spider beetle. It is a cosmopolitan stored product pest that originated in Australia and spread to Europe and the UK around 1900. The species is notable for its spider-like appearance and its status as a significant pest of stored foods, museum specimens, and historic collections. It has been recorded from at least 55 museums and historic houses in the United Kingdom.
Ptinus variegatus
Ptinus variegatus is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by Rossi in 1792. It is a stored-product pest with a cosmopolitan distribution, having been introduced to North America from its native Palearctic range. The species is associated with dry organic materials including stored food products, dried plant matter, and animal remains. Like other Ptinidae, it undergoes complete metamorphosis with a cryptic larval stage.
Sphaericus gibboides
humped spider beetle
Sphaericus gibboides, commonly known as the humped spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Africa, Australia, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Sphaericus, which are characterized by their compact, rounded body form. The specific epithet 'gibboides' refers to the humped or gibbous shape of the body.
Tricorynus
deathwatch beetles, spider beetles
Tricorynus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as deathwatch and spider beetles. The genus contains at least 80-90 described species. Members of this genus are associated with stored products and natural habitats involving dry organic materials. Some species, such as Tricorynus confusus, have been documented as pests in tobacco storage facilities.
Tricorynus nigritulus
A small beetle in the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae), described by LeConte in 1865. Records indicate presence in North America, including Ontario, Canada. The genus Tricorynus contains species commonly known as spider beetles or related forms, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Trigonogenius globulus
Globular Spider Beetle
Trigonogenius globulus, commonly known as the globular spider beetle, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae. The species has achieved broad cosmopolitan distribution across multiple continents. Its scientific name has been frequently misspelled as "globulum" in literature. The species is known from scattered observations, with relatively few documented records despite its wide geographic range.
Xarifa
Xarifa is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, order Coleoptera. Members of this genus are small to minute beetles commonly known as spider beetles. The genus name is also shared with a 19th-century sailing yacht that served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, but this naval vessel is taxonomically unrelated.