26/08/2026
The buffalo carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae), also known as the common carpet beetle, can draw its head and antennae back into a recess in the pronotum until both almost disappear. Disturbed adults often fold their legs as well and lie still. The beetle itself is only 2.5 to 3.8 millimetres long, oval, and patterned with black, white and orange-red scales that wear off with age. Adults live mostly outdoors and feed on pollen and nectar, often on pale flowers. The damage begins later. Females lay batches of about 30 to 60 eggs on animal fibres. The brown, densely haired larvae feed on keratin in wool, fur, feathers, silk and dried specimens. In museum drawers they work quietly for weeks, leaving cast skins and a fine dust of frass. Entire insect boxes can be reduced to hollow remnants. Shed larval hairs may irritate human skin. Outside collections the same larvae belong to a scavenger lineage that breaks down dead animal material. Indoors, that habit makes them one of the most feared pests of natural history collections.
Source:
* University of Florida / IFAS, EENY-482: Common Carpet Beetle (Kopf größtenteils unter dem Prothorax verborgen, 30–60 Eier, Larvenentwicklung ca. 66–70 Tage, Museumsschäden, Dermatitis durch Larvenhäute).
* MuseumPests.net, Fact Sheet Buffalo Carpet Beetle (Adulte 2,5–3,8 mm, Larven 2,5–5,5 mm, Schäden an Textilien und Präparaten, Adulte vor allem Blütenbesucher).
* USDA-Circular „The Carpet Beetle, or Buffalo Moth“ (historisch: bei Störung Beine und Fühler angelegt, Totstellreflex).
* Wikipedia: Anthrenus scrophulariae (Beschreibung, Lebenszyklus, Kopf unter dem Pronotum verborgen, Schuppenmuster, weltweite Verbreitung).