Common name: Hide beetles
Number of species: 3
Size Range: 5-10mm
Description:
Three species in Britain, all 5-10mm long and one of which, Trox perlatus Geoffroy, has not been seen in the country since the 1930s. As the common name suggests, these beetles are mainly found in association with dry carcasses, although they are also found in large birds nests, particularly hole-nesting species such as jackdaws Corvus monedula (L.). The elytra have a distinctively granulate appearance.
How do you get rid of hide beetles?
Where possible appliances should be removed and area below and behind cleaned thoroughly. Refuse should be suitably contained and refuse storage areas should be kept clean. A residual insecticide should be applied where an infestation of dermestes beetles is found.
Where are hide beetles found?
The hide beetle is often found on dried meat products such as pet food and is most often discovered as a hairy larva in the bottom of pet food bags. These larvae can burrow into paper, cardboard, Styrofoam insulation and wood, leaving a round hole approximately 6mm (0.25”) in diameter.
What are some interesting facts about hide beetles?
Hide Beetle Facts
These warty, bumpy insects are scavengers who are often covered in dirt. These beetles are found all over the world in dry environments. These beetles are also useful in the forensic field, as they are the first organisms to appear on burned and charred bodies, helping to determine times of death.
The hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer, feeds on carrion and dry animal products. These beetles form aggregations around resources where individuals will feed and mate, attracted by pheromones secreted by males. Aggregations can vary in size, but small sources of food usually have approximately one to 13 beetles (McNamara et al. 2008). The adult beetles have forensic significance in helping to estimate the post mortem interval in suicide or homicide cases (Richardson and Goff 2001). These insects are also pests of the silk industry in Italy and India, and infest stored animal products such as dried fish, cheese, bacon, dog treats, and poultry (Veer et al. 1996, Cloud and Collinson 1986). Another beetle of both forensic and economic importance in the Dermestidae is Dermestes lardarius. This beetle can be distinguished from Dermestes maculatus as it has a yellow band of hairs on the top half of each elytron (Gennard 2007).
Description
Eggs: Dermestes maculatus eggs are typically laid in batches of three to 20. The amount of eggs a single female can lay over a lifetime varies greatly, ranging from 198 to 845 (Hinton 1945).
Larvae: The bodies of the larvae are covered in rows of hairs of different lengths, called setae. The underside of the abdomen is typically yellowish-brown while the dorsal surface is typically dark brown, usually with a central yellow line. Two long horn-like protrusions are located on the upper surface of the last segment, partially hidden by surrounding hairs (Haines and Rees 1989). The protrusions, called urogomphi, curve upward and away from the tip of the abdomen. This distinguishes the larvae from larvae of Dermestes lardarius, which has the urogomphi curving downward toward the tip of the abdomen (Hedges and Lacey 1996).
Pupae: The last larval skin will usually provide a protective covering for the pupa. The end of the pupal chamber toward the surface can be closed by either debris from the substance which the larvae bore into or from the last larval skin (Hinton 1945). The pupae are an oval shape, usually smaller than the larvae, and do not have the many long hair-like projections (Kulshrestha and Satpathy 2001).
Adults: Dermestes maculatus adults range in size from 5.5 to 10.0 mm. Each side of the thorax has a band of white hairs. The underside of the abdomen is primarily white with black spots at the sides, and a large black patch on the last segment. The elytra are dark brown or black, with hairs that are mostly black, yellow, or white. The antennae are short and segmented with a club at the tip. The edges of the abdominal end of the elytra are serrated and end in a small spine projecting straight out (Haines and Rees 1989, Hinton 1945).
Life Cycle and Biology
The life cycle of Dermestes maculatus on either a carcass in dry-decay or in stored animal products requires approximately five to seven weeks to complete under optimum conditions. The adults consume the remains of the carcass or the animal product (Archer and Elgar 1998, Haines and Rees 1989). Pheromones, secreted by males through a gland on the base of the abdomen, are used to attract females. Males and females will mate multiple times and the female will lay eggs within 24 hours of the first mating (Jones et al. 2006). Eggs are laid in cracks of the matter on which they are feeding (Haines and Rees 1989). Females are capable of laying eggs continuously (Jones et al. 2006).
Larvae will pass through five to 11 instars, the number of instars increasing with unfavorable conditions (Haines and Rees 1989, Hinton 1945). During the last 10 days of the final instar, the larvae will seek out a place to pupate, typically within the meat or a non-food substance such as wood. Exposed pupae that have failed to find a suitable pupal chamber are often cannibalized by larvae. Larvae without a suitable place to pupate can delay pupation by over 20 days, but at the cost of lower adult body mass and increased risk to fatal disease (Archer and Elgar 1998). Survivorship for individuals is the highest between 25°C and 30°C (Richardson and Goff 2001).
Once adults, the beetles can disperse to other food sources by flying (Haines and Rees 1989). Adult beetles typically live between four to six months.
Hide Beetles
Problem
There are more than 50 species of Dermestes, known collectively as Hide Beetles, and a few of these are common as domestic pests. This is a serious pest in commercial and domestic kitchens, particularly around food cupboards, cookers and refrigerators.
Their appearance is usually associated with food scraps and debris on which they can successfully breed. The adult beetles fly readily, and are attracted to sources of light at night, creating problems in upper floor areas of houses. They are also associated with birds nests in lofts.
Lifecycle
The adult beetles range from 5.5 to 12mm in length, are oblong in shape and are densely covered in hairs. Female insects lay eggs on material suitable for food for the larvae, often in cracks and crevices. The larvae are quite distinct – up to 14mm long, dark brown banded with distinctive bristles, known as ‘woolly bears’. During the larval stages they actively avoid light and if disturbed feign death by lying still, curling themselves up in the process.
When ready to pupate they may burrow their way into relatively hard substances such as wooden panelling and structural timbers which can cause significant damage.
Hide Beetle Description
Adult Hide Beetles: Adult hide beetles are about 13 mm (0.5 inches) long, dark brown to black and have whitish markings on the shoulders of the pronotum and underside. This species is characterized by the small spike-like points at the tip of the elytra.
Hide Beetle Eggs: Hide beetle eggs are oval and approx. 1.5 mm (0.06 inches) long.
Hide Beetle Larvae: Hide beetle larvae are hairy brown to blackish blue in color and about 13-19 mm (0.05-0.75 inches) long. There is a pair of stiff spines that arise from the second to last abdominal segment. These spines curve upwards.
Hide Beetle Pupae: Pupae are slightly smaller than the larvae, and oval in shape. The pupating insect will use its last larval skin to provide a protective covering for the pupa. The end of the pupal chamber may be closed with debris or material the larvae was previously feeding on.
Hide Beetle Life Cycle
The female hide beetle will lay 650-850 eggs in its 60-90-day life span as an adult. Larvae will feed on high protein material such as dried meats, pet foods and skins of animals. The hide beetle life cycle on average takes 44-70 days depending on humidity, temperature, and quality of food.
Hide beetles are less active in colder months and will remain as larvae during this time. This stage can be as short as 35 days or 238 days depending on when temperatures begin to rise. Pupation is a relatively short 7 days.
The adult hide beetle can fly, and peak adult activity occurs in the warmer months with flights occurring until temperatures drop. Several generations can occur during the year.
Hide Beetle Facts
Hide Beetles are commonly confused with other Dermestid beetles.
Other common names for the hide beetle include leather beetle, skin beetle, tallow dermestid, fox beetle, prickly carpet beetle, spotted carpet beetle, and thorny bacon beetle
Hide beetle initiate flight at temperatures above 20°C (68°F).
