|
Web
Design By-
Future Information Technology
If
you are experiencing problems with this site please contact the webmaster
|
|
|
|
Furniture
Beetle vs Cigarette beetle
|
|
|
.
|
|
Agrisense-BCS
is a major developer and manufacturer of bio-rational
insect pest monitoring products, distributed throughout
Australia by Entosol Australia Pty Ltd. Over 90 %
of AgriSense products are exported from the UK to
all five continents and the company has received the
prestigious Queens Award for exports twice, most recently
in 1997.
|
|
|
|
.
|
The males of both of
these species respond to the sex pheromone produced by female
Furniture Beetles - which must lead to some embarrassing encounters!
It is not likely that such encounters are common, for these two
species live in different habitats, but there will be some overlap
and you will need to cope with these.
Anobium punctatum live in wood, preferably damp
wood, in their juvenile stages. Stegobium paniceum
live in dried foodstuffs, such as biscuits, pasta, dried vegetables,
herbs, spices and nuts, in their juvenile stages. They are particularly
fond of high protein food, such as dried cat and dog food.
| |
If
insects which look like Furniture beetles are caught in
an Anobium Trap...
|
|
| 1. |
LOOK
FOR THE EXIT HOLES IN SURROUNDING WOOD
|
|
| |
Establish
exactly where the trap was placed and examine all nearby
structural timbers, wooden furniture, picture frames, artifacts
etc for evidence of recent exit holes. The presence of fresh
"sawdust" underneath these holes will confirm
this. It may be necessary to look on the underside of floorboards
and other difficult-to-access areas. The infestation would
be expected to be within 5 metres of the trap, though if
there are reasonable air currents, they may be further away.
If
exit fresh exit holes are found, advise suitable wood treatment.
|
EXIT
HOLES NOT FOUND
|
INFESTATION
MAY BE VERY WELL HIDDEN |
|
INFESTATION
MAY BE IN AN ADJOINING BUILDING |
|
INSECTS
CAUGHT MAY NOT BE Anobium punctatum |
|
|
| 2. |
CHECK
THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE INSECTS CAUGHT
|
|
| |
Using
a handlens (x10 magnification or higher) and suitable illumination,
look carefully at the insects caught. In particular, look
at the insect from the side. As illustrated below, the profile
of the insect's thorax will be different according to the
species. Anobium punctatum will have a distinct
hump, whilst
Stegobium paniceum will not.
| Anobium
punctatum |
|
| Stegobium
paniceum |
|
Illustrations
courtesy of the Natural History Museum. London
|
ANOBIUM
CONFIRMED
|
RESURVEY
AREA MORE THOROUGHLY CHECK ADJOINING PREMISES |
|
STEGOBIUM
CONFIRMED
|
CHECK
AREA FOR DRY FOODSTUFFS
The adults leave exit holes in infested materials. |
|
IDENTITY
UNCERTAIN
|
CONSIDER
USE OF EXPERT HELP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is
possible for all manner of insects to blunder into an Anobid
Trap, particularly if it has been placed in a loft. There are
many insects associated with birds nests which could, by chance,
become caught.
The insect that the trap is specifically designed to catch, the
Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum), has a
couple of close relatives which look very similar to it.
To make things even worse, one of these, the Biscuit Beetle (Stegobium
paniceum), is actually attracted to the pheromone used in
this trap.
You are going to be presented with Anobid Traps containing a wide
variety of insects.
You will
need to be able to spot the right beetle to maintain your professional
credibility and that of your company.
| |
ANOBIUM
PUNCTATUM
|
|
| |
 |
Size |
approx.
2mm long |
|
| |
Colour |
reddish
brown, with short yellow-grey hairs |
|
| |
Distinguishing
Features |
|
| |
i)
|
The
end three segments of the antennae are much bigger than the
other segments |
|
| |
ii)
|
The
head is held right underneath the thorax, so is not visible
from above |
|
Line
drawing courtesy of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL). Slough,
U.K.
These features should, between them, help to distinguish the Common
Furniture Beetle from most other insects which may blunder into
the trap by chance.
See above for help in distinguishing Anobium punctatum from its
close relative, Stegobium paniceum.
|
|
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
