Two-spotted Carpet Beetle
Attagenus pellio
This record describes Attagenus pellio (species). Recorded family: Dermestidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Length 3.5 to 5.5 mm. A small, black, oval shaped beetle with two distinctive white marks on the elytra. Found in homes and offices, living in carpets and infesting woollen products and any materials of animal origin. Also found in birds nests.
Wikipedia reference for Attagenus pellio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attagenus_pellio.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Bostrichoidea
- Family
- Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Attageninae
- Tribe
- Attagenini
- Genus
- pellio (Black Carpet Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in homes and offices, living in carpets and infesting woollen products and any materials of animal origin. Also found in birds nests.
Seasonal Activity
All year round.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread in England and Wales.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Attagenus pellio. 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 Two-spotted Carpet Beetle (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Two-spotted Carpet Beetle
What is Two-spotted Carpet Beetle?
Two-spotted Carpet Beetle (Attagenus pellio) is a species in the family Dermestidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Two-spotted Carpet Beetle?
3.5 to 5.5 mm. A small, black, oval shaped beetle with two distinctive white marks on the elytra.
Where is Two-spotted Carpet Beetle found?
Habitat: Found in homes and offices, living in carpets and infesting woollen products and any materials of animal origin. Also found in birds nests.
When is Two-spotted Carpet Beetle active?
Two-spotted Carpet Beetle: seasonal activity - All year round..