Furniture Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus flavipes
This record describes Anthrenus flavipes (species). Recorded family: Dermestidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dorsal surface with scales of two colours: white and yellowish brown. White scales on pronotum on each side condensed in a spot near anteriour angles and two (often confluent) patches in the posteriour half; white scales may be found on the posteriour margin also, but not forming a distinct prescutellar spot. Elytra with several white spots (usually partly merging): one on base near, but not touching, scutellum, the remaining arranged into three transverse bands. Important characters apart from colour: Eyes with inner frontal margin distinctly notched (unlike in verbasci ), antennae 11-segmented with 3-segmented club. Sometimes confused with A. verbasci , in which the colour pattern is a little different, and eyes not notched. Det. Andreas Herrmann, 2020 first detected in NA in the US in horsehair-stuffed upholstered furniture imported from Russia ; spread to Europe much later (first detected 1955)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Bostrichoidea
- Family
- Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Megatominae
- Tribe
- Anthrenini
- Genus
- Anthrenus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
adventive: e. US, UT - Map and Europe , probably native to the Oriental Region, now almost cosmopolitan (mostly in subtropical climates)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: in modern households, larvae feed on a variety of organic substrates, incl. wool, silk, fur, feathers, and dry animal material (larvae will not fully develop if fed on pure wool unless it is impregnated with some other animal product); larvae will feed on book bindings, chew holes in paper, and are attracted to and feed on dead animals
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Anthrenus flavipes LeConte 1854 the common name refers to its habit of attacking the animal-hair packing of stuffed furniture (common practice in the early 1900s)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Anthrenus flavipes. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Furniture Carpet Beetle (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Boris Bueche , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Furniture Carpet Beetle
What is Furniture Carpet Beetle?
Furniture Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus flavipes) is a species in the family Dermestidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Furniture Carpet Beetle?
2-3.5 mm
How do you identify Furniture Carpet Beetle?
Dorsal surface with scales of two colours: white and yellowish brown. White scales on pronotum on each side condensed in a spot near anteriour angles and two (often confluent) patches in the posteriour half; white scales may be found on the posteriour margin also, but not forming a distinct prescutellar spot. Elytra with several white spots (usually partly merging): one on base near, but not touching, scutellum, the remaining arranged into three transverse bands. Important characters apart from colour: Eyes with inner frontal margin distinctly notched (unlike in verbasci ), antennae 11-segmented with 3-segmented club. Sometimes confused with A. verbasci , in which the colour pattern is a little different, and eyes not notched. Det. Andreas Herrmann, 2020
Where is Furniture Carpet Beetle found?
Range: adventive: e. US, UT - Map and Europe , probably native to the Oriental Region, now almost cosmopolitan (mostly in subtropical climates)
What does Furniture Carpet Beetle eat?
The diet of the Furniture Carpet Beetle includes in modern households, larvae feed on a variety of organic substrates, incl. wool, silk, fur, feathers, and dry animal material (larvae will not fully develop if fed on pure wool unless it is impregnated with some other animal product); larvae will feed on book bindings, chew holes in paper, and are attracted to and feed on dead animals.