COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > BOSTRICHOIDEA > Dermestidae

Dermestidae is a relatively small, but diverse family, collectively known in Britain as larder beetles even though the more discussed and documented varieties go under the names of carpet, hide or museum beetles. There are around 40 native or introduced species on the British List, which are separated into various subfamilies and/or tribes depending on the classification system.

Traditionally there were seven subfamilies, with three of those only being represented by a single species. The Attageninae, regarded as carpet beetles as the larvae of some species will damage natural fibres, particularly wool and fur, if they get indoors, are now downgraded to a tribe, Attagenini. Similarly, whilst some authorities place the Antherenus species into subfamily Anthreninae, others have them in Megatominae, within their own tribe Anthrenini.

Antherenus verbasci, commonly known as the Varied Carpet Beetle, is a notorious pest species of both domestic houses and natural history museums where the larvae will destroy insect collections. The larval form of the species is, somewhat affectionately, called a 'woolly bear', a name shared with some moth larvae that may be found on soft furnishings or in wardrobes. In normal outdoor conditions adults emerge, often from bird nests or tree hollows, between late May and early August, when they may be found feeding on the pollen and nectar of various flowering plants. The adults have a relatively short life, sometimes as little as a couple of weeks.

There are slightly varying forms of the species, which differ in size, colour and patterning, but generally they're described as being in the region of 2-3.5mm long with pale white, brownish or yellow markings against a darker background of scales. The head is small and often concealed below the front edge of the pronotum.

Updated, Jan.25 (v.2)