Museum Beetle
Anthrenus museorum
This record describes Anthrenus museorum (species). Recorded family: Dermestidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Bright scales of dorsal surface condensed on side margins of pronotum and forming three (usually narrow) fasciae on elytra. Eyes not notched in front, Antennae 8-segmented, with club of two segments. Antennal club considerably shorter than rest of antenna.
Wikipedia reference for Anthrenus museorum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrenus_museorum.
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
Habitat
In some regions, esp. within its native range, lives primarily outdoors; larvae rarely in bird nests, usually in bee nests (feeding on moth pupae) and in spider nests in peridomestic habitats. In the sheet webs of Tegenaria domestica larvae are found in the egg sacs, feeding on eggs and spiders that failed to hatch; larvae crawl on the web without being attacked. Adults are active on flowers in sunlight, then become negatively phototactic and seek sheltered sites.
Geographic Range
native to the Palaearctic, adventive in our area (ne. NA: NF-ON to CT-WI) and elsewhere
Diet and Behavior
Diet: attacks furs, woolens, carpets, silk, feathers, and skins; larvae have also been recorded feeding on grain, museum specimens, and dead insects
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Anthrenus museorum (Linnaeus 1761)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Anthrenus museorum. 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 Museum Beetle (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Boris Büche; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Museum Beetle
What is Museum Beetle?
Museum Beetle (Anthrenus museorum) is a species in the family Dermestidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Museum Beetle?
2.2-3.6 mm
How do you identify Museum Beetle?
Bright scales of dorsal surface condensed on side margins of pronotum and forming three (usually narrow) fasciae on elytra. Eyes not notched in front, Antennae 8-segmented, with club of two segments. Antennal club considerably shorter than rest of antenna.
Where is Museum Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | In some regions, esp. within its native range, lives primarily outdoors; larvae rarely in bird nests, usually in bee nests (feeding on moth pupae) and in spider nests in peridomestic habitats. In the sheet webs of Tegenaria domestica larvae are found in the egg sacs, feeding on eggs and spiders that failed to hatch; larvae crawl on the web without being attacked. Adults are active on flowers in sunlight, then become negatively phototactic and seek sheltered sites. |
| Range | native to the Palaearctic, adventive in our area (ne. NA: NF-ON to CT-WI) and elsewhere |
What does Museum Beetle eat?
The diet of the Museum Beetle includes attacks furs, woolens, carpets, silk, feathers, and skins; larvae have also been recorded feeding on grain, museum specimens, and dead insects.