Ptinus tectus

Ptinus tectus, often called the Australian spider beetle, is a species of beetle in 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.

Ptinus tectus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Ptinidae
Genus: Ptinus
Species:
P. tectus
Binomial name
Ptinus tectus
Boieldieu, 1856
Synonyms
  • Ptinus ocellus Brown, 1929

P. tectus Boieldieu, 1856 is the name most often used for this species. Some works still state Ptinus ocellus Brown, 1929.[3]

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.[4]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Domestic pest

The species is considered as a pest in museums.[6] It is recorded from at least 55 museums and historic houses in the United Kingdom.[7]

References
  1. "Ptinus tectus Boieldieu, 1856". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  2. "Ptinus (Tectoptinus) tectus Boieldieu 1856". Fauna Europaea. 2000–2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  3. "ITIS - Report: Ptinus ocellus". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  4. "Australian Spider Beetle: Ptinus tectus". PestWeb. Archived from the original on 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  5. Ewer, D. W.; Ewer, R. F. (1942). "The biology and behaviour of Ptinus tectus Boie.(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. doi:10.1242/jeb.18.3.290.
  6. Pinnager, D. 2001. Pest Management in Museums, Archives and Historic Houses. Archetype Publications.
  7. "Whats Eating Your Collection?". Collections Trust. 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
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