Varied Carpet Beetle
species of family “Skin Beetles“
1 species
The adult varied carpet beetle is small, round, and covered in scales of different colors, with white scales forming distinct patterns on its body. Larvae, known as ‘woolly bears,’ are longer and covered in hairs, with brown stripes and tufts of hair for self-defense. These beetles are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Larvae feed on natural fibers, while adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. The species experiences a dormancy period before transitioning from larvae to adults.
Description#
Adult A. verbasci range in length from 1.7 to 3.5 mm (0.07 to 0.14 in). The body is rounded, almost spherical. The elytra and pronotum are covered in fine scales of different colours, creating an irregular pattern of white, brownish and yellowish patches on these features. The white scales are focussed along the lateral margins of the pronotum and on the elytra, where they form three bright, wavy transverse bands. In addition to these morphological features, their antennae are 11-segmented, with a club of 3 segments. The larval form of A. verbasci, commonly known as ‘woolly bears’ (a name shared with the larvae of Arctia caja and many other moths of the subfamily Arctiinae), measures up to 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) in length. The larvae are elongated and densely covered in large setae (hairs). These hairs are organised into alternating, transverse groups of light and dark-brown patches: the larva appears covered in brown stripes. The body is usually wider at the back than at the front where it also bears 3 pairs of hair tufts along its rear abdomen that can be used for self-defense.
Distribution and habitat#
This species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic realm, in the Near East, in the Nearctic realm, in North Africa and in North Asia, also in the Neotropics.
Diet and behaviour#
Larvae feed on keratin and chitin of natural fibers (dead insects, animal hair and feathers) throughout their development, eventually experiencing a dormancy period (also known as diapause) prior to pupation into the adult stage. The length of the dormancy appears to depend on environmental factors, with the most likely zeitgeber, or trigger, being photoperiod. Adults feed on the pollen and nectar of flowering plants. They are reportedly particularly fond of flowers in the daisy family.
External links#
Biolib Fauna Europaea Invertebrate Ireland on line Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine Dermestidae of the World Habitus, abdomen and antennae. Varied Carpet Beetle Fact Sheet Varied Carpet Beetle Allergy and Treatment Archived 2016-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Museumpests.net - Varied Carpet Beetle Museum factsheet Dermestid Beetle Carpet Beetles and Clothes Moths Varied Carpet Beetles feeding on allium flowers Wikispecies Data related to Varied carpet beetle at Wikispecies
The adult varied carpet beetle is small, round, and covered in scales of different colors, with white scales forming distinct patterns on its body. Larvae, known as ‘woolly bears,’ are longer and covered in hairs, with brown stripes and tufts of hair for self-defense. These beetles are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Larvae feed on natural fibers, while adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. The species experiences a dormancy period before transitioning from larvae to adults.
Ancestry Graph
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