Spider-beetles
Guides
Cryptorama
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Cryptorama is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus was established by Fall in 1905 and contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus share characteristics with other Ptinidae in their compact body form and association with wood or stored products.
Cryptoramorphus floridanus
Cryptoramorphus floridanus is a species of beetle in the family Ptinidae, first described by White in 1966. The genus Cryptoramorphus belongs to the spider beetle group, though specific details about this particular species remain scarce. Records indicate its presence in North America, with the species epithet suggesting a Florida association. Only a single observation has been documented on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Dorcatominae
Dorcatominae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Ptinidae, encompassing approximately 16 genera and at least 190 described species. Members are commonly known as death-watch and spider beetles. The subfamily was formerly classified within Anobiidae, but family-level taxonomy has been revised to Ptinidae. Larval morphology has been described in detail for at least some members of the genus Dorcatoma.
Epauloecus unicolor
A small beetle in the family Ptinidae (spider beetles), recorded from scattered localities in Europe and eastern Canada. The specific epithet "unicolor" suggests uniform coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources. The species has been documented in Serbia, Austria, and several Canadian provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
Mezium
spider beetles
Mezium is a genus of spider beetles (subfamily Ptininae) with a global distribution concentrated in two main regions: the western Mediterranean from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco and the Canary Islands, and central and southern Africa. Species in this genus are primarily cave-dwelling, feeding on animal feces and bat guano, though several have adapted to human-made structures such as barns and chicken coops. The genus includes notable species such as Mezium affine (shiny spider beetle) and Mezium americanum (American spider beetle).
Pitnus
Pitnus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, first described by Gorham in 1883. Members of this genus belong to the spider beetle group, a diverse assemblage of small beetles often associated with stored products, dry organic matter, or bird and mammal nests. The genus remains poorly documented in modern literature, with limited species-level revisions and few verified observations in public databases. Its taxonomic placement within Ptinidae reflects morphological affinities with other genera characterized by globose bodies and relatively long legs.
Pseudeurostus
Pseudeurostus is a genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Heyden in 1906. The genus comprises approximately seven described species. Spider beetles in this family are generally small beetles with compact bodies and are often associated with stored products or dry organic matter. Members of Pseudeurostus are distributed in parts of Europe, with records from Norway and Sweden.
Sculptotheca
Sculptotheca is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (formerly often placed in Anobiidae), established by Schilsky in 1900. The genus contains approximately ten described species, including the known species Sculptotheca puberula. These beetles belong to the group commonly known as spider beetles or deathwatch beetles, though specific ecological details for the genus as a whole remain poorly documented. The family placement has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some sources listing Ptinidae and others Anobiidae.
Sphaericus
spider beetles
Sphaericus is a genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Wollaston in 1854. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members are classified within the tribe Sphaericini and subfamily Ptininae. These beetles are part of the diverse spider beetle assemblage, a group often associated with stored products and dry organic materials.
Trigonogenius
Trigonogenius is a genus of spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Hagedorn in 1912. The genus contains five to six described species, including the globular spider beetle (Trigonogenius globulum). A new species was described from Peru in 2025, indicating ongoing taxonomic work and expanding knowledge of the genus's Neotropical diversity.
Xyletinini
Xyletinini
Xyletinini is a tribe of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch and spider beetles. The tribe was established by Gistel in 1848 and contains at least 10 genera and approximately 70 described species. Xyletinini belongs to the subfamily Xyletininae within the superfamily Bostrichoidea. Member genera include Xyletinus, Vrilletta, Euvrilletta, and others.