Ptinus tectus

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Ptinus tectus
Ptinus Tectus.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Infraorder:
Bostrichiformia
Superfamily:
Bostrichoidea
Family:
Ptinidae
Genus:
Ptinus
Species:
P. tectus
Binomial name
Ptinus tectus
Boieldieu, 1856
Synonyms
  • Ptinus ocellus Brown, 1929

Ptinus tectus, often called the Australian spider beetle, is a species of beetle in the genus Ptinus of the family Ptinidae,[1] or family Anobiidae, subfamily Ptininae.[2] It is a cosmopolitan species (arrived in Europe and the UK from Australia in 1900). It is a pest of stored foods and museum specimens.

P. tectus (Boieldieu, 1856) is the name most often used for this species. Some works still state Ptinus ocellus Brown, 1929.[citation needed]

Biology[]

Description[]

The Australian spider beetle (Pictus tectus) measures 2.5–4 mm in length and is coloured dark brown. The adults have biting mouthparts, a well developed thorax and 11-segmented antennae. Characteristics which give them a spider-like appearance include a stout body, pronounced constriction of the neck shield and 6 long thin legs with 5-segmented tarsi.[3]

Life cycle[]

The female Australian spider beetle lays 100-120 sticky eggs over a period of 4–5 weeks in early summer, either singly or in small batches. At 20-25 °C the eggs hatch in 3 – 16 days, producing larvae which are fleshy, curved, covered with fine hairs and relatively immobile. Larval development takes at least 6 weeks, during which time the larvae moult 4 or 5 times. When mature, they wander in search of a pupation site where they spin a cocoon cell in which to pupate. Adults emerge after 20 to 30 days and will live for as long 12 months.[3]

At 70% R.H. development of Ptinus tectus from egg laying to emergence from the cocoon takes an average of about 62 days at 23-25 °C; at 15 °C the time taken is about 130 days. The minimum temperature at which complete development can occur is 10 °C and the maximum is between 28 and 30 °C. Considerable mortality occurs in eggs and larvae at 28 °C.[4]

Domestic pest[]

The species is considered as a pest in museums.[5] It is recorded from at least 55 museums and historic houses in the United Kingdom.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ptinus tectus Boieldieu, 1856". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  2. ^ "Ptinus (Tectoptinus) tectus Boieldieu 1856". Fauna Europaea. 2000–2015. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Australian Spider Beetle: Ptinus tectus". PestWeb. Archived from the original on 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  4. ^ Ewer, D. W.; Ewer, R. F. (1942). "THE BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF PTINUS TECTUS. (COLEOPTERA, PTINIDAE), A PEST OF STORED PRODUCTS III. THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ON OVIPOSITION, FEEDING AND DURATION OF LIFE CYCLE". Journal of Experimental Biology. 18: 290–305.
  5. ^ Pinnager, D. 2001. Pest Management in Museums, Archives and Historic Houses. Archetype Publications.
  6. ^ "Whats Eating Your Collection?". Collections Trust. 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-22.

External links[]

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