Taxonomic and biological notes on Attagenus and Anthrenus SPP (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) found damaging stored woollen fabrics in India

J. stored Prod. Res. Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 185-198,1991 Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved

0022-474X/91$3.00+ 0.00 Copyright 0 1991Pergamon Press plc

TAXONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON ATTAGENUS AND ANTHRENUS SPP (COLEOPTERA : DERMESTIDAE) FOUND DAMAGING STORED WOOLLEN FABRICS IN INDIA VIJAY VEER, RAME~HWAR FRASAD

and K. M. RAO

Entomology Division, Defence R. & D. Establishment, Gwalior-474002, India (Received for publication 1 February 1991)

Abstract-Keys for the identification of the adult and mature larval stages together with morphological description and notes on distribution and biology are given for Attagenus cyphonoides Reitter, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg), Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer, Anthrenus coloratus Reitter, Anthrenus Javipes LeConte, and Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel. These six species are recorded from stored woollen and other keratinaceous material in India. Anthrenus ffavipes, Anthrenus oceanicus, and Attagenus cyphonoides are described as serious pests of woollen goods and Anthrenus coloratus is recorded as a museum pest. Attagenus lobatus and Anthrenus oceanicus are recorded from India for the first time.

INTRODUCTION

Most of the dermestid beetles are capable of feeding and developing on keratinaceous products and several are economically important to the woollen textile industry and museums throughout the world. In museums, besides infesting insect collections, they damage stuffed mammals and birds, hides, hunting trophies, woollen tapestries, and other woollen fabrics of historical importance. The total loss caused by these insects in India and elsewhere has not been assessed but is undoubtedly quite considerable. Hinton (1945), in his monograph on stored product beetles, included 45 dermestid pests of which 9 species which were known to occur in India. At the time, only one of the nine, Anthrenus j&wipes LeConte, had been recorded damaging woollen materials in India. The rest of the species had either been collected on stored cereals there or intercepted at ports on cereal commodities that had originated from India. Since then only two more species, Attugenus cyphonoides Reitter and Attugenus fusciutus (Thunberg) have been reported damaging woollen materials in India (Ayyappa et al., 1964; Rajashekhargouda and Devaiah, 1986). During the period 1984-1987, however, the authors surveyed Indian army ordnance depots, industrial, and domestic stores and in addition to those already reported found three more species infesting woollen materials (see list below). As dermestid pests are, in general, poorly known in India and two of the six collected had not been reported from this country previously, the opportunity was taken to carry out morphological and biological studies on them. The results of these studies are presented here and include redescriptions of adult and mature larval stages, diagnostic keys and notes on biology.

LIST

OF

DERMESTIDS

FOUND

INFESTING

WOOLLEN

MATERIALS

IN

INDIA

The following six species were found associated with woollen materials during the authors’ 1984-1987 survey. Attageninae Attugenus cyphonoides Reitter (synonym, Attugenus ulfierii Pit) *Attugenus lobutus Rosenhauer *Attugenus fusciutus (Thunberg) [synonym, Attugenus gloriosue (Fabricius)] 185

VUAYVEERet al.

186

Anthreninae Anthrenus coloratus Reitter Anthrenus fiauipes LeConte (synonym, Anthrenus vorax Waterhouse) *Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel (synonym, Anthrenus fasciatus var. latebasalis

Pit)

(*new record) For full synonym see Mroczkowski

(1968).

unicolor unicolor (Brahm) [syn. Attagenus piceus (Olivier)] a serious pest of woollen materials elsewhere (Halstead, 1981) was not collected by us although it was earlier reported on cereals in India by Fletcher and Ghosh (1920). Attagenus

KEY

TO THE

ADULTS

AND

MATURE

LARVAE

OF THE

ABOVE

SIX SPECIES

(1) Adults . .. .. .. .... .... ....a.. .... ..... .... ... ... ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .... .... .... ., ... .... .. .. .. .... ..... .. Mature larvae.. ..... ... .... ... ... .. ... ... .... ... ..... .... .... .... ,... .. .... .. ,... .. .... ..... .... ..._.....

(2) Body without scales, covered with erect or recumbent pubescences;

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

antenna1 cavities shallow and not visible in frontal view; abdominal sternite V not emarginate at apex .,......................,..............,...................................................,, Attagenus spp Body covered with triangular or broadly oval scales; antenna1 cavities always well defined, deep and visible in frontal view; abdominal sternite V with broad and deep emargination at apex .... .... .... .. .. ... .... ... ... ..... .... ... .... .... .... .. .. ... .... .... .... ... .. .. .. .... .... .... Anthrenus spp Elytra dark chestnut brown with a distinct, transverse, band of greyish to golden brown pubescences at sub-basal region . ... ..... . .. ... ... .... ... ..... ... .... ... ... .. .. . ... .... .. ... ... ...Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg) Elytra without such a band ..... ... .... .... .... .... .. .. .... .... .... ..... ,... ,... ,... ,. ...._... ... Integument pale brown or reddish brown; all pubescences testaceous brown; pronotum produced distinctively in middle of base to form a characteristic broad truncate lobe; apical segment of J antenna slightly longer than combined length of previous two segments; second segment of protarsus about $ as long as fifth segment . ..... ... ... .... .. .... .. .... .. .... ... ..... ... .... ..... . .. .... .. .... Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer Integument yellowish to completely blackish brown; all pubescence black except for a few light golden hairs on lateral half at basal quarters of elytra; apical segment of 8 antenna more than 5 times longer than combined length of previous two segments (Fig. 1); second segment of protarsus more than 5 as long as fifth . ... ..... ... .... .. .... .. . ..... ... .... ... ..... ... ... .... ... .. ... .... .Attagenus cyphonoides Reitter Antenna 1l-segmented with 3-segmented club; eyes with inner margin interrupted in front of middle by a small emargination; sternite I with discal striae ... .. ... ... ... .... ... .. ... .... ... ... .. ... ... .... .. .. .... .... .. .... ... ..... .... ..... .... ...... ... Antenna g-segmented with 3-segmented club; eyes with inner margin evenly rounded; sternite I without discal striae; typical dorsal habits as shown in Fig. 34 . ... .... .. .. ... ... .... .. . ..... .... ... ... .. . .. .... ... ... .. .... .. .... .. ... Anthrenus coloratus Reitter Mid and hind femora always with golden or medium golden brown scales; dorsal habitus as shown in Fig. 35 . .. ... ... .... .. .. .... ... .... ... ... .. . .. ... .... . .. ..... . .. .... .. ,... ,.... Anthrenus flavipes LeConte Mid and hind femora with mostly white scales; all scales with a longitudinal median groove dorsally; dorsal habitus as shown in Fig. 36 . .. .... .. .... .. .. .... ... .... .... .. .. .... .. .... ... ..... . .. .... ... .. .... . Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel

Notes of Indian

demestid

pests

Caudal tuft of spear-headed setae (hastisetae) present on membranous area of posterolateral region of abdominal tergites V-VII; epipharynx with 6 distal sensory papillae in a well defined group (Fig. 23) .. .. .. ... ... .... ... ... ... .. .. .... ... .... ... ..... .... ... ... .. ... .... .... ..... ..... .... ... ..... Anthrenus spp Abdomen without hastisetae, tergites and sternites with broadly lanceolate or linear-lanceolate setae only; caudal setae on segment X long and smooth; epipharynx with two distal widely separated sensory pits ... ... ... .... ..... . .. ... ... .... ..... ... .... .. ... .... ... .. .... ..... .... .. .... ..... .... ...... .. Attagenus spp Abdominal tergite VIII covered with broadly lanceolate, flat, scale-like (8) setae with 5-7 ribs between margins (Fig. 12) .. .... ... .... ... ... .. ... ... .... ... .. ... .... .. ... ... .... .. .... ..... . Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer Abdominal sternite VIII covered with lanceolate or linear-lanceolate setae or both (Figs 6, 7) . ... ..... .... .. ... ... .... .. .... ..... .... ..... .... ...... ...... ... .. .... ... .. ... .... .. . (9) Second antenna1 segment with about 12-14 setae; spiracular sclerite on abdominal tergite I with 8-10 setae . .. .... .. . ..... ... .... ... ... .. ... ..... .. .. .... ..... .... ... ..... ...Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg) Second antenna1 segment with about 3 or 4 setae inserted at distal part; spiracular sclerite on abdominal tergite I usually with 3 or 4 setae (not more than six) . .. .... .. . ..... ... .... .. .... .. .. .... .... .. .... .. ....... ... ..... .... .Attagenus cyphonoides Reitter (10) Abdominal sternites I-VIII sclerotised; head of hastisetae of caudal tuft apically produced (Figs 30, 31) ... .... ..... .... .. .... .... ..... .. .... .... ..... .... .. .... ..... ... Abdominal sternites I-VIII hyaline; head of hastisetae of caudal tuft not apically produced, 27-46pm long (Fig. 29); second antenna1 segment 3 times as long as broad (Fig. 15) ... ... ... ... .... ... ..... ... .... ... .. .... ... ..... .... .. . ..... .... .. .... .. Anthrenus coloratus Reitter (11) Second antenna1 segment 4 times as long as broad; abdominal tergite I with only a few (3-6) hastisetae medially beyond the middle row of large spicisetae; head of hastisetae 80-92 pm long (Fig. 30) ... . .. ... ... .... ... ..... ... .... .. ...... .... ..... .... .. . ...... ... .. .... . Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel Second antenna1 segment more than 5 times as long as broad; abdominal tergite I with several (30-35) hastisetae medially beyond the middle row of large spicisetae; head of hastisetae 115-120 pm long (Fig. 31) . .. .... ... ... .. .. .... ... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .. .... .. ...... .... .. ... Anthrenus javipes LeConte

187

(7)

10

8

9

11

Attagenus cyphonoides: Reitter, 1881a (Figs l-7, 32) Description Adult. Body length 2.3-4.0 mm; dorsal and ventral integument immaculate yellowish brown or blackish brown. Pubescences on dorsal surface moderately dense, most of the setae suberect but some recumbent, dark brown, or black. Each elytra with an inconspicuous fascia of lighter golden setae on lateral half at basal quarter. Antenna1 segments I-VI pale yellow, rest brown. Antenna1 apical segment of club in d about 5 times length of previous two combined, in $?it is subequal to them. Prosternal process narrow; lateral lobe very narrow and forming a razor like carina in front of procoxae; trochantin hidden by the lobe of hypomeron; 2nd segment protarsus more than ; times as long as fifth. Male genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 3. Mature larva. Integument of head and dorsal surface of body yellow-brown; setae black brown except yellowish brown setae on head. Head. Antennae 3-segmented, length (width) of each segment in micrometres (pm), I 116-118 (48-50), II 116-l 18 (40-41), III 44-45 (20); segment II with 3-4 short setae inserted on anterior dorsal region; accessory papilla terminal, i as long as segment III; segment I with several setae, dense towards distal end. Epipharynx with proximal series of 8-10 sensory pits, middle series of 6 sensory papillae rarely 5 and all arranged in an arch shape. Maxillary palp 4-segmented, Length (Width) of each segment in micrometres: I 12-13 (6), II 20-22 (4), III 76-78 (2-3), IV 64-66 (2),

188

VIJAYVEERef al.

1

Figs 1-7. Affagenus cyphonoides Reitter. 1-3 adult. 1,2, antennae, dorsal view (setae omitted): 1, d; 2 0. 3, $ genitalia. 4-7, larva. 4, antenna, dorsal view. 5, spiracular sclerite of abdominal tergite I. 6 and 7 setae of abdominal tergite II: 6, linear-lanceolate; 7, linear-lanceolate seta from posterior margin of tergite.

segment III with 2 simple long setae on distal half, segment IV smooth without setae. Mandible prostheca membranous, fringed anteriorly. Body setae. Anterior part of tergites I-VIII with fine, simple setae varying in length from $ to as long as the tergite, abdominal tergites without submarginal row of erect setae, disc of each tergite with linear and linear-lanceolate setae, linear setae smaller and 2 times as long as the length of sclerotized area of tergite, linear-lanceolate setae longer and about 4 times as long as tergite. Linear-lanceolate setae faintly longitudinally ribbed with 2 or 3 ribs between margins while linear setae with only one visible rib, both types of setae intermingled; posterior margin of each tergite with a row of stouter, long, linear-lanceolate setae, having slightly spiculate margins with 3-5 ribs between margins. Sternites with long, simple setae on anterior part, disc with linear-lanceolate setae having 2 or 3 ribs between margins, a few linear-lanceolate setae also present towards anterior region; posterior margin with a dense row of linear-lanceolate setae having spiculate margins. Caudal setae about equal to the length of 6 abdominal segments. Abdomen. Abdominal tergites I-VII with well defined antecostal suture; abdominal tergite IX half as long as tergite VIII; two very small sclerites present on sternite IX and separated by more than their breadth.

Notes of Indian dermestid pests

189

Figs 8-14. Attagenus spp, 8-12, A. lobatus Rosenhauer. 8-10, adult. 8,9, antennae, dorsal view (setae omitted); 8, 3; 9, 0. 10, $ genitalia. 1l-12, larva: 11, antenna, dorsal view; 12, discal setae of abdominal tergite II. 13 and 14 A.jinciurus (Thunberg) larva: 13, antenna, dorsal view; 14, discal setae of abdominal tergite II.

Spiracle and associated structures of abdominal tergite I: spiracle closed behind by tergite, anterior margin of opening slightly curved, posterior margin somewhat thickened, spiracle very close to the spiracular sclerite. Spiracular sclerite oval, usually bearing 3-4 setae but not more than six (Fig. 5), not enclosed posteriorly by tergite. Material examined. 15 99, 1 8, and 5 larvae, Gwalior (M.P.), 15 June 1985, ex house sparrow’s nests, collector, Vijay Veer; 5 99 and 2 d$, Gwalior (M.P.), 10 March 1986, on house wall, collector, Vijay Veer; 5 QQ and 1 3, Hyderabad (A.P.), 9 July 1988, on house sparrows’ nest, collector, Vijay Veer. Distribution and biology. Attagenus cyphonoides is a widely distributed species found in the Palaearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical, and Nearctic regions (for details see Halstead, 1981). In the present study it was collected from Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Dehradun and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Bombay (Maharashtra), and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). All the above mentioned localities are new records except Kanpur.

190

VuAY Vat et al.

It is a synanthropic species commonly found in commercial and domestic stores, museums, etc. Earlier it was reported from drug stores in Egypt under the name Attagenus aljierii Pit (Hinton, 1945). It has frequently been intercepted at ports in Britain (Halstead, 1981) and was first reported from India damaging woollen goods, fur, feathers, hairs, etc. in Kanpur (U.P.) by Ayyappa et af. (1964). During the present study it has been collected several times in stores where it has caused serious damage to the woollen clothing. The larvae and adults were also collected in kitchens feeding on dead cockroaches [Blurtella germanica (L.)] at Gwalior. It has been found damaging carpets in Bombay and stored tennis balls in Gwalior and skins of the tiger (Panthera tigiris L.) in Hyderabad. In nature it occurs in bird’s nests especially in the nests of house sparrow [Passer domesticus (L.)] and house pigeon (Columba livia Gmelin) and in inaccessible crevices in houses where the larvae feed on dead insects caught in spiders’ webs. Some information on the biology of this species is given by Zhantiev (1976) who studied its development at 22-25°C 45-50% r.h. He found that during their oviposition period of 4-5 days, the females lay 80-90 eggs. The incubation period is not more than 9 days and the development of larvae takes 6-7 months. The pupal period lasts 8-10 days and one generation is produced in a year. Larvae hibernate and pupate in spring in Central Asia. In the present study it was observed that in India (Gwalior, M. P.) this species is in flight from mid February to mid April and then again from mid May to July each year. The largest numbers of adults were caught in March on white washed walls or on window panes in the morning hours between 8 and 10 a.m. Under laboratory conditions of 27 f 0.5”C and 65 + 5°C r.h., the authors found that a female lays up to 74 eggs during its oviposition period of l-4 days. Eggs take about 8-9 days to hatch and the larval period lasts 102-l 13 days. The second generation larvae pass the winter season (November to January) in a diapause like condition. Females live about lo-12 days whereas males live for 12-14 days. Attagenus lobatus: Rosenhauer,

1856 (Figs 8-12, 33)

Description Adult. Body length 2.8-6.0 mm; dorsal and ventral integument immaculate pale-reddish or light brown head may be darker chestnut brown; scutellum brown; antennae and legs yellow-brown. Pubescences on dorsal and ventral sides short (40-60 pm long), recumbent and testaceous brown. Antenna1 apical segment compared to combined length of two previous segments in 6 1.2 times longer, in 0 subequal. Prosternal process narrow, slightly expanded at apex and slightly produced beyond the level of posterior edge of procoxae; lateral lobe narrow without carina in front of procoxae; trochantin hidden by a lobe of hypomeron. Pronotum with middle of base distinctly produced posteriorly forming a truncated lobe; second protarsal segment half as long as fifth. Male genitalia as illustrated in Fig 10. Mature larva. Integument of head and dorsal surface golden brown; setae golden brown. Head. Antennae 3-segmented, length (width) of each segment in micrometres; I 220-225 (44-46), II 158-162 (48-50), III 42-45 (20); accessory papilla terminal 15-16 pm long and about i as long as segment III; segment II without setae, segment I with several setae inserted towards distal end. Epipharynx with proximal series of 14-17 sensory pits, middle series of 6 sensory papillae arranged in an arch as in cyphonoides; distal series of 2 sensory pits. Length of each maxillary palpi segment in micrometres; I 30-33, II 36-40, III 120-125, IV 98-105, segments I and II with several setae, segment III without setae segment IV with 3 distal and one seta at the middle exterior. Body setae. Anterior part of meso- and metanotum and abdominal tergites I-VIII with simple, 1-L3 of the length of the tergite); disc rather densely clothed with long, linear setae of varying length (4 flat, broad, oblong, scale like setae, each seta having 5-7 ribs between both margins. Posterior margin of each tergite with a regular row of lanceolate, stout, long setae. Stemites in anterior part with linear setae and submarginally a regular row of closely placed stout, long lanceolate setae; disc with overlapping flat, broad, scale-like setae, as on tergites; posterior margin with a regular row of stout lanceolate setae. Caudal setae equal to the length of 3 abdominal segments. Abdomen. All abdominal tergites with well defined antecostal suture. Tergite IX half as long as tergite VIII; stemite IX with two small sclerites separated by a narrow cleft.

Notes of Indian dermestid pests

191

Spiracle and associated structures of abdominal tergite I: spiracle closed behind by tergite; spiracular sclerite oval, not enclosed by tergite posteriorly and bearing lo-12 stout lanceolate setae. Muteriai examined. 7 09, 3 38, and several larvae, Kanpur (U.P.), 11 July 1984, ex woollen fabric, collector, Vijay Veer; 4 99, 3 83 and 10 larvae, Gwalior (M.P.), 5 May 1988, ex woollen fabric, collector, Vijay Veer. Distribution and biology. Attagens lobatus was previously reported from Central Asia, the Mediterranean subregion and north America (Beal, 1970). This is the first record of this species from India. It has been reported damaging woollen materials, furs, feathers, etc. in stores in Egypt (Hinton, 1945). It was collected from industrial stores and an army ordnance depot in Kanpur, and in commercial stores at Gwalior where it had damaged woollen blankets and other woollen clothes. So far it has not been collected elsewhere in India. This species may have been introduced to India through trade, perhaps from the Maghreb countries during the colonial period. It is not widespread in India. Zhantiev (1976) provided information on the life-history of this species in Turkmenia (U.S.S.R.). He stated that flight begins in mid June and ends in September. One generation is produced in a year and the larvae hibernate. At 25°C he noted that the egg takes 9-12 days to hatch, the larval period lasts 21 months and pupal period 11-12 days. The present authors found that in India it is also a univoltine species, adults appearing from April to July. Adults have, however, also been collected in the month of December in hot premises of a woollen mill in Kanpur. It overwinters as larvae or pupae. Under laboratory conditions of 27 f 0.5”C and 65 rt 5% r.h., a female lays up to 55-60 eggs in its oviposition period of 3-5 days. Eggs hatch out after lo-12 days of incubation. The larval and pupal periods lasts about 240-270 and 4-5 days respectively. Attagenus fasciatus: Thunberg,

1795 (Figs 13-14)

Description Adults. Body length 3.6-5.8 mm; dorsal and ventral cuticle dark chestnut brown except beneath sub-basal band on elytra where it is lighter. Pubescences sub-recumbent; pronotum with greyish to golden yellow setae often with patches of black setae; elytra with black or greyish to golden yellow setae and with a sub-basal complete band of greyish to golden yellow setae. Antenna1 club not sexually dimorphic, apical segment about $ as long as previous two segments combined. Pronotum at middle of base not obviously produced and not depressed in the middle on basal third. Protarsus with second segment about one third as long as fifth segment; protibia with spines on margin and on lateral third of anterior side; profemur with anterior carina poorly developed near trochanter. Halstead and Green (1979) have reviewed the status of this species and provided characters for its separation from the morphologically similar Attagenus woodrofii Halstead and Green with which it had previously been confused. Mature larva. Integument of head and dorsal surface reddish brown to brownish yellow; ventral surface hyaline. Body setae brown to dark brown. Head. Length (width) of each antenna1 segment in micrometres: I 180-190 (60-61), II 168-170 (52-54), III 68-70 (20-21), accessory papilla terminal, more than d as long as segment III, segments I and II with several setae. Epipharynx with proximal series of 16-17 sensory pits, middle series of 6 sensory papillae in a straight line. Length of each maxillary palp segment in micrometres, I; 24-26, II 28-30, III 125-130, IV 100-105, segment III with two simple long setae as in Attagenus cyphonoides, segment IV without setae. Mandibles prostheca membranous, fringed distally, retinaculum of 3-4 setae. Body setae. Anterior part of tergites I-VII with fine, simple setae varying in length; disc of each abdominal tergite with predominantly linear-lanceolate setae and with a few linear setae which are intermingled; linear setae shorter (120-140 pm long) and with 2 longitudinal ribs while linear-lanceolate setae more stouter and longer (205-220 pm long) and ribbed longitudinally with 4-5 ribs; posterior margin with a row of stouter, linear-lanceolate setae having smooth margins. Sternites with linear setae in anterior part and medially with linear-lanceolate setae; at posterior margin a row of stouter dense linear-lanceolate setae, anterior row of linear-lanceolate setae absent; caudal setae equal to the length of 7 abdominal segments.

192

VuAY Vim et al.

Thorax and abdomen. Nota 2,3 and abdominal tergite I-VIII each with a well defined antecostal suture; tergite IX three quarters as long as tergite VIII; two sclerites present on sternite IX and separated by a narrow cleft. Spiracle and associated structures of abdominal tergite I: spiracle closed behind by tergite; opening slit like, posterior margin somewhat thickened. Spiracular sclerite almost rounded bearing 8-10 setae and not enclosed by tergite posteriorly. Material examined. 2 99, 1 3, and 5 larvae, Hyderabad (A.P.), 26 June 1988, ex nests of house sparrow, collector, Vijay Veer; 6 larvae, Bombay (Maharashtra), 20 December 1987, ex carpets, collector, Vijay Veer. Distribution and biology. Attagenus fasciatus is nearly a cosmopolitan species and widespread throughout the topical and subtropical regions of the world. In India, it has been recorded from Hyderabad* (A.P.), Mysore, Dharwad (Karnataka), Bombay* (Maharashtra), and Gujarat (*new record). It is a well known storage species found damaging stored items of animal and vegetative origin in domestic premises, commercial stores, and in the field. It is considered as a household pest in Egypt and Hawaii (Hinton, 1945) and in U.S.A. (Back, 1923). It was reported for the first time from India on the cereals exported to England by Hinton (1945). Thereafter it was reported from Gujarat feeding on tobacco seeds (Pate1 and Chari, 1977) and from Karnataka damaging stored seeds of Eucalyptus spp, feathers, wool, and dried fish (Rajashekhargouda et al., 1985; Rajashekhargouda and Devaiah, 1986). In the present study it has been found damaging carpets in Bombay and Hyderabad and also collected from nests of the house sparrow at the latter place. Biology of the species was studied in brief by Pate1 and Chari (1977) on tobacco seed and Rajashekhargouda and Devaiah (1986) on silk worm cocoons. It reproduces twice in a year. Adults appear in March to July and from September to November. However, adults were also caught in the field throughout the year. In the laboratory at 27 f 0.5”C and 65 f 5% r.h., a female lays up to 70 eggs during 4-5 days of oviposition. Eggs take lo-12 days to hatch. The larval and pupal periods last about 120-140 days and 67 days respectively. Anthrenus coloratus: Reitter, 1881b (Figs 15-19, 29, 34) Description Adult. Body length 1.5-2.5 mm; dorsal and ventral integument dark reddish brown; antennae and legs yellow-brown. Scales usually broadly obovate, rarely subtriangular. Dorsal surface with white, golden or medium brown and dark brown scales. Pronotum with basal three quarters or all of sides clothed with white scales, central region with medium golden or dark brown or a mixture of these scales; basal lobe with white scales. Elytra with a background of golden or black brown scales or both and with 3 zig-zag, transverse, complete or nearly complete bands of white scales situated at basal quarter, middle, and near apex. Ventral surface with white scales except for posterior margins of the four apical abdominal sternites which have golden or dark brown scales or both. Antenna1 apical segment sexually dimorphic, in S twice as long, in 9 a third longer than previous two segments combined. Male genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 16. Mature larva. Integument colour in general yellowish brown, pronotum, anterior part of mesoand metanotum and abdominal tergites I-IV darker; lateral part of all nota and tergites I-IV lighter. Head dark brown, ventral surface hyaline; legs yellow, claws brown. Body setae yellow. Head. Length (width) of each antenna1 segment in micrometres: I 23-25 (33), II 90-92 (32), III 26-27 (12-13); accessary papilla 13-14 pm long: segment I with one seta ventrally, other segments without setae. Epipharynx with a proximal series of 9 sensory pits, distal sensory papillae forming a single well defined group of 6 as in other species of Anthrenus treated here. Maxillary palps 3-segmented, length of each segment in micrometres, I 15-16, II 18-20, III 30-32, segments I and II without setae, segment III with 7 setae. Body setae. Acrotergites of meso- and metanotum and abdominal tergites lacking spicisetae. Nota 2, 3 and abdominal tergites I-IV with only a median row of large spicisetae; tergites V-VIII with only a posterior row of large spicisetae; no fine spicisetae on tergites anterior to median row of large spicisetae. Hastisetae forming brush at sides of abdominal tergites V-VII; head of

Notes of Indian dermestid pests

193

16

19 Figs 15-19. Anthrenus coloratus Reitter. 15 and 16, adult: 15, d antenna, dorsal view (setae omitted); 16, 6 genitalia. 17-19, larva: 17, antenna, dorsal view; 18, labrum and epipharynx; 19, lateral half of abdominal tergite I (points of insertion of spicisetae are represented by circles and of hastisetae by dots).

hastisetae 27-46 pm long and shaped as illustrated in Fig. 29. Antecostal suture completely absent on abdominal tergites V-VII; nota 2, 3 and abdominal tergites I-IV with incomplete suture. Material examined. 9 $20, 5 66, and 10 larvae, Gwalior (M.P.), 5 May 1988, ex wool fabric, collector, Vijay Veer; 8 99 and 2 36, Gwalior, 10 March 1986, on the wall of a house, collector, Vijay Veer. Distribution and biology. Anthrenus coloratus has a very wide distribution and is recorded from the Mediterranean subregion, Africa, Asia and North America (Halstead, 1974). It is common throughout most of India and has been collected from *Dehradun, lKanpur (U.P.), Gwalior (M.P.), Dharwad and Hubli (Karnataka), *Bombay (Maharashtra), and *Hyderabad (A-P.) (*new record). This species was earlier reported as a pest of insect collections in museums in Sudan (Hinton, 1945) and stuffed animals in India (Ansari and Basalingappa, 1986). It is frequently collected from stores, houses, etc. In the stores it is collected on wool clothes, blankets, brushes, etc. In museums it has also been found destroying insect collections and stuffed animals (leopard, civet cat, loris and bat). In nature it has frequently been collected from house sparrows’ nests and in spiders’ webs. Zhantiev (1976) notes that in Turkmenia this species is found on flowers from the end of May to the end of August. He states that it has one generation a year. In Gwalior (India), it reproduces twice in a year and flight occurs during March and April and again in July to August. Several adults

VIJAYVEERet al.

194

were collected on house walls and window panes in the morning hours However, no adults were collected on flowers during this study. In the and 65 & 5% r.h. a female lays about 8-16 eggs during the oviposition hatch out after 8-9 days and larvae take about 3-4 months to complete period lasts about 5-6 days. Anthrenusflavipes:

LeConte,

during the flight season. laboratory at 27 + 0.5”C period of 4-5 days. Eggs development. The pupal

1856 (Figs 20-24, 31, 35)

Description Adult. Body length 3.0-3.5 mm. Habitus as shown in Fig. 35. Dorsal and ventral integument reddish brown to dark brown; antennae and legs pale reddish brown. Scales (length x width, 80-82 x 36-42 pm), apex rounded. Dorsal surface with white, golden and dark golden brown scales; ventral surface with predominantly white scales, but femora and a small patch on anterolateral part of sternites II-V and middle of sternites V with golden or dark brown scales or both; sometimes sternites I also with a spot of golden scales on anterolateral part but usually absent. Antenna1 club with apical segment 1.2 times as long as previous two combined; hind tibia bearing stout conspicuous spines along outer margin. Male genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 21.

Figs 2@-24. Anrhrenusfluuipes LeConte. 20 and 21, adult: 20, 3 antenna, dorsal view (setae omitted); 21, 8 genitalia. 22-24 larva: 22, antenna, dorsal view; 23, labrum and epipharynx; 24, lateral half of abdominal tergite I (points of insertion of spicisetae are represented by circles and of hastisetae by dots).

Notes

of Indian

dennestid

pests

195

Mature larva. Integument of head, anterior half of pro- and mesonotum brown but lateral sides and posterior half of pro- and mesonotum yellow; metanotum and abdominal tergites I-IV mainly dark brown but central region and sides yellow; tergite V light brown; tergites VI-IX completely yellow. Antenna and legs yellow; heads of hastisetae dark greyish brown, shafts brown; spicisetae brown. Ventral surface of thorax and abdominal stemites I to II hyaline, other sternites pale brown. Head. Antenna 3-segmented, length (width) of each segment in micrometres, I 33-35 (51-52) II 240-245 (49-50), III 66-70 (16); accessory papilla 30-32 pm long; segment I with 2 setae, II and III without setae. Epipharynx with a proximal series of 11-12 sensory pits, distal sensory papillae clustered in a single group. Maxillary palpi 3-segmented, length of each segment in pm I 30-31, II 38-40, III 53-55, segment I with 2 setae, II with 6 setae and III with only one seta. Body setae. Setal pattern on tergite I shown in Fig. 24; acrotergites of nota 2, 3 and abdominal tergites I-VIII without spicisetae; tergites I-IV with only middle series of large spicisetae, lacking on posterior margin, V-VIII with only a posterior row of large spicisetae; hastisetae inserted across almost entire tergites I-IV in a row posterior to median row of spicisetae; tergite I has 30-35 hastisetae medially. Brushes of hastisetae inserted on membranous area behind tergites V-VII; head of hastisetae 115-120 pm long and shaped as illustrated in Fig. 3 1; tergite IX bearing two small protuberance and a terminal brush of long spicisetae. Antecostal suture present on nota 2, 3 and abdominal tergites I-IV, absent on tergites V-VIII. Material examined. 10 !&?and 6 38, Gwalior (M.P.), 5 May 1988, ex wool fabric, collector, Vijay Veer; 12 99, 10 63 and several larvae, Kanpur, 12 December 1984, ex barrack blanket, collector, Vijay Veer. Distribution and biology. Anthrenus Jlavipes is a cosmopolitan species and well known for the serious damage it does to keratinaceous materials (Hinton, 1945). In India, it is known from *Hyderabad (A.P.), *Dehradun, Kanpur (U.P.), *Gwalior (M.P.), *Jodhpur (Rajasthan), *Pathankot (Punjab), and Calcutta (West Bengal) (*new record). This species had been recorded from India damaging skins and leather (Cotes, 1896) horns, wool fabrics, and bristles of brushes (Lefroy, 1909) and carpets and mattresses (Patton, 1931). During the present study it has been frequently collected from army depots, woollen mills, domestic and industrial stores and museums where larvae have damaged woollen clothing, fur lined aviation clothes, feathers, brushes (made of horn), carpets, wool wall hangings, upholstered furniture, hammers of pianos, and other products of animal origin in various parts of the country. In one of the stores at Kanpur this species was solely responsible for destroying barrack blankets worth about 1.4 million rupees (about E40,OOO).Several adults and larvae were collected from a pigeon nest at Jodhpur. Larvae were also observed feeding and damaging stuffed animals in museums at Dehradun and Gwalior. Adults were collected several times on walls of house, although none was collected on flowers during the investigation. The biology of this species has been studied in detail by various workers and their work has been reviewed by Hinton (1945). In India its biology has been studied by Sohi (1951) Ayyppa et al. (1957) and Nair (1963). It is a bivoltine species and flight occurs during mid February to mid April and then again in June to July. In the laboratory at 27 + 0.5”C and 65 + 5% r.h., a female lays 40-100 eggs in its 8-l 1 days of oviposition. The incubation period is 7-8 days. Larvae take about 1lo-140 days to develop. The pupal period lasts for 3-4 days. Anthrenus oceanicus: Fauvel, 1903 (Figs 25-28, 30, 36) Description Adult. Body length 2.0-2.5 mm. Habitus as shown in Fig. 36, characterised by a broad, complete sub-basal band of yellowish white scales on elytra. Dorsal and ventral integument nearly dark brown: antennae and legs yellow-brown. Scales (length x width, 56-60 x 32-36 pm), oval, rounded at apex and with a median longitudinal groove. Dorsal surface with white, golden brown and dark brown scales, not black as stated by Hinton (1945) when referring to this species under the name Anthrenus uorax Zutebasalis (Pit) (see also Mroczkowski, 1964). Ventral surface with white or yellowish white scales except for a small patch of dark brown scales on anterolateral part of abdominal sternites II-V and on middle of sternite V; rarely a very small spot of golden brown scales on anterolateral part of abdominal sternites I. All femora with white scales and sometimes

196

VIIAYVEERet al.

20

29 1,;

30

1 31

Figs 25-31. Anlhrenus spp 25-28, A. oceanicus Fauvel. 25 and 26, adult: 25, 3 antenna, dorsal view (setae omitted); 26, 6 genitalia. 27 and 28, larva: 27, antenna; 28, lateral half of abdominal tergite I (points of insertion of spicisetae are represented by circles and of hastisetae by dots. 29-31, hastisetae: 29, A. coloratus Reitter; 30, A. oceanicus Fauvel; 31, A. flavipes LeConte.

a few coloured scales. Antenna1 club with apical segment as long as or slightly shorter than previous two combined; hind tibia with spines on outer margin inconspicuous, not as dense or stout as in AnthrenusJuuipes. Male genitalia as shown in Fig. 26. Mature larva. Integument of head dark brown; all nota brown on anterior half rest yellow, abdominal tergites I-IV brown but lighter on lateral and middle regions; tergites V-VI somewhat yellowish brown, VII-VIII completely yellow. Thoracic sternites and abdominal sternite I hyaline. Legs yellow; body setae brown. Head. Antenna similar to that of Anthrenusflauipes except in size, length (width) of segments in micrometres, I 28 (40), II 160 (40), III 60-62 (1%16), accessory papilla 23-25 pm long. Epipharynx with 8-10 sensory pits and distal sensory papillae in a well defined group of 6. Length of each segment of maxillary palp in micrometres, I 18-20, II 18-20, III 40-42; segments I and II each with 5 setae, segment III with only one seta.

197

Notes of Indian dermestid pests

Body setae. Setal pattern on abdominal tergite I is shown in Fig. 28 and is smaller to that of Anthrenusflauipes except that abdominal tergite I has fewer (36) hastisetae medially. Abdominal segments V-VII bearing brushes on membranous area as in AnthrenusJEavipes; head of hastisetae 80-92 pm long. Antecostal suture on nota 2, 3 and on abdominal tergites I-IV incomplete while absent on tergites V-VIII. Material examined. 15 Q?, 8 66 and several larvae, Hyderabad (A.P.), 10 August 1986, ex carpet, collector, Vijay Veer.

35

36

Figs 32-36. Dorsal habitus of $! adults: 32, Attagenus cyphonoides Reitter; 33, Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer; 34, Anthrenus coloratus Reitter; 35, Anthrenus fravipes LeConte; 36, Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel.

198

&JAY VEERet aI.

Distribution and biology. Anthems oceanicus has previously been recorded from Sri Lanka, Malaya, and New Caledonia (Mroczkowski, 1968). In India, it has been collected from Hyderabad where it has badly damaged carpets and other woollen goods in stores. This is the first confirmed record of this species from India. Nothing has been published about the biology of this species. In Hyderabad, it reproduces twice a year. Adults appear from March to April and again from July to August. At 27 + 0S”C and 65 Itr 5% r.h., a female lays upto 30-40 eggs during her oviposition period of 9-10 days. Eggs hatch after 6-7 days and the larvae pupate after a further loo-120 days. The pupal period lasts for 4-5 days. Acknowledgements-The authors are thankful to Brig. K. M. Rao, Director and to Dr P. K. Ramachandran, Emeritus Scientist, Defence R.&D. Establishment, Gwalior for their constant encouragement. Grateful thanks to Mr Pratap Singh, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and to Professor Swaraj Ghai, I.A.R.I., New Delhi for allowing us to examine their dermestid collections. Our special thanks to Dr D. G. H. Halstead, ADAS Central Science Laboratory, Slough, England for confirming the identification of the species.

REFERENCES Ansari M. F. and Basalingappa S. (1986) Infestation of stuffed birds and mammals by the larvae of Anthrenus coloratus Reitter (Dermestidae:Coleoptera). J. stored Prod. Res. 22, 131-134. Ayyappa P. K., Cheema P. S. and Perti S. L. (1957) A life history of Anthrenusfiavipes LeConte (Col. :Dermestidae). BUN. ent. Res. 48, 185-198. Ayyappa P. K., Perti S. L. and Wal Y. C. (1964) A life history study of the black carpet beetle, Atfagenus aljierii Pit (Coleoptera : Dermestidae). Ind. J. Em. 26, 2755280. Back R. A. (1923) Carpet beetles and their control. Farmers BUN. U.S. Dept. Agric., p. 13. Beal R. S. (1970) A taxonomic and biological study of species of Attagenini (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the United States and Canada. Ent. Am. 45, 141-235. Cotes E. C. (1896) Miscellaneous notes. Ind. Mus. Notes 1, 195-213.* Fauvel A. (1903) Faune Analytique des coleopttres de la Nouvelle Cal&-lonie. Rev. Ent. 22, 203-378.* Fletcher T. B. and Ghosh C. C. (1920) Stored grain pests. Ent. Meet., Pusa (India) 2, 712-758. Halstead D. G. H. (1974) Changes in the status of insect pests in storage and domestic habitats. Proc. 1st inr. wkg conf. stored prod. Ent. Savannah, 142-153.

Halstead D. G. H. (1981) Taxonomic notes on some Attagenur spp. associated with stored products, including a new black species from Africa (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). J. stored Prod. Res. 17, 91-99. Halstead D. G. H. and Green M. (1979) Attagenus woodrofiisp. n. previously confused with Attagenusfasciatus (Thunberg) (Coleoptera:Dermestidae). Notul. ent. 59, 97-104. Hinton H. E. (1945) A Monograph of the Beetles Associared with Stored Products, Vol. 1,443 pp. British Museum (Natural History), London. LeConte J. M. (1854) Synopsis of the Dermestidae of the United States. Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad. 7, 106-I 13.* Lefroy H. M. (1909) Indian Insects Life. Thacker, Calcutta, 786 pp. Mroczkowski M. (1964) Systematic and synonymic notes upon certain species of Dermestidae (Coleoptera). Ann. 2001. 22: 179-187. Mroczkowski M. (1968) Distribution of the Dermestidae (Coleoptera) of the world with a catalogue of all known species. Ann. Zool. Warszawa 26, 15-91.

Nair K. S. S. (1963) Observations on the biology of the dermestid beetle, Anthrenus vorax Waterhouse under laboratory conditions. J. anim. Morph. Physiol. 10, I-14. Pate1 G. M. and Chari M. S. (1977) Bionomics of tobacco seed beetle, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Gujerat Agric. Univ. Res. J. 2, 69-75. Patton W. S. (1931) Insects, ticks, mites and venomous animals of medical and veterinary importance. Part II, Public health. School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, 740 pp.* Rajashekhargouda R. and Devaiah M. C. (1986) Biology of the carpet beetle, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg) (Col: Dermestiade) and loss estimation. Mysore J. Agric. Sci. 20, 43-51. Rajashekhargouda R., Devaiah M. C. and Chinaswamy K. P. (1985) A new host record of the carpet beetle, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Ind. J. Seric. 24, 40. Reitter E. (188la) Die aussereuropiiischen Dermestiden meiner Sammlung. Mit 70 Diagnosen neuer Arten. Verh. Nat. Ver. Briinn. 19, 27-60.* Reitter E. (188lb) Bestimmungs- Tabellen der europaischen Coleoptera III. Enthaltend die familien: Scaphidiidae, Lathridiidae und Dermestidae. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien. 30, 41-94.* Rosenhauer W. G. (1856) Die Thiere Andalusiens nach dem Resultate einer Reise zusammengestelt, nebst dem Beschreibungen von 249 neuen oder bis jetzt noch unbeschreibungen Gattungen und Arten. Erlangen, 429 pp.* Sohi G. S. (1951) Biology of the woolley bear, Anthrenus vorax Waterhouse. Proc. natn Acad. Sci., India 21, 99. Thunberg C. P. (1795) Dissertatio Entomologica, sistens Insecta Suecica, Pars 9, 105-I 13.* Zhantiev R. D. (1976) Hide beetles (Family Dermestidae) of the fauna of the U.S.S.R. (in Russian). Moscow, 182 pp.*

*Not seen in original.