Anthrenus sarnicus
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| Anthrenus sarnicus | |
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| Species: | A. sarnicus
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| Anthrenus sarnicus | |
Anthrenus sarnicus, the Guernsey carpet beetle, is a type of carpet beetle ('Sarnia' is the Latin name for Guernsey).[1] It can be generally found in Great Britain. Its suborder is Polyphaga, the infraorder is Bostrichiformia, the superfamily is Bostrichoidea, and the family is Dermestidae. The carpet beetle is shaped like an oval and about the size of a pin.
Description[edit]
Diet[edit]
Carpet beetles are known for eating away at carpets and rugs. Their diet consists of feathers, furs, insects, dead animals, processed human food, skins, cotton, silk, and wool.
Predators[edit]
A variety of predators like ants and spiders will feed on carpet beetle larvae. No predators will exclusively eat carpet beetles and the larvae will hide in dark places to avoid them.
Life Cycle[edit]
All carpet beetles will go through metamorphism during their lives. They will pass through the egg, larval, and pupal points to reach full maturity. This can take two months to many years. Female carpet beetles can lay over 100 eggs which can hatch after 10–44 days at temperatures between 15 °C (59 °F) and 32.5 °C (90.5 °F), ideally at 25 °C (77 °F).[2] Four generations of carpet beetles can develop every year. It can take 9 months to 2 years for a carpet beetle to become a full adult. However, adults only survive for a couple of weeks. The adults are skillful fliers and can live for many weeks without food. In the UK, it was found that between June and September, the beetles mostly stay outdoors, migrating indoors during the rest of the year.[3]
As a pest[edit]
Signs of an infestation are spotting their pellets and skin. One should also expect to see the adult beetles and their larvae. Adult guernsey carpet beetles have patches of brown, white, and black. They move slowly and when touched they will roll over. The source of the infestations can be identified by looking for where there are more beetles, skins, and feces.
Outdoor Treatment[edit]
First of all get rid of all nests and hives in your backyard. Those are great places for beetles to nest which you do not want. Then, spray liquid insecticide around the perimeter of your house. Make sure so wear proper clothing at all times before you do this.
Indoor Treatment[edit]
Vacuum your whole entire house especially where you think the infestation is. Throw away any items that are already infested. Wash all your clothing and fabrics with soap and hot water. If you want, you can go the extra length by steam cleaning your furniture and carpentry.
Prevention[edit]
Close your screen less doors and windows at all times to prevent the beetles from entering your house. Inspect all plants and flowers before they enter your house. Store unused clothing in airtight containers and let your clothing get some sunlight every day.
References[edit]
- ^ Mroczkowski, Maciej (1962-11-01). "Anthrenus sarnicus sp. n. (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) from the Island of Guernsey". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 5 (59): 697–700. doi:10.1080/00222936208651303. ISSN 0374-5481.
- ^ Armes, N.J. (1990-02-01). "The biology of Anthrenus sarnicus Mroczkowski (Coleoptera: Dermestidae): I. Egg and larval development". Journal of Stored Products Research. 26 (1): 11–22. doi:10.1016/0022-474X(90)90033-O. ISSN 0022-474X.
- ^ Armes, N.J. (1988-02-01). "The seasonal activity of Anthrenus sarnicus Mroczkowski (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and some other beetle pests in the Museum environment". Journal of Stored Products Research. 24 (1): 29–37. doi:10.1016/0022-474X(88)90006-9. ISSN 0022-474X.
- "Life Cycle of Carpet Beetle: Phases & Reproduction of Carpet Beetles". Orkin.com. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- "What Eats Carpet Beetle Larvae - How to get rid of carpet beetles". Orkin.com. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2021-05-28.