Identifying insect pests in museums and heritage buildings

Abstract

Introduction to pest identification

Scope
This booklet is designed to allow practical identification of pest insects and some insects which are environmental indicators in Museums and other heritage buildings in the British Isles, as part of IPM pest monitoring, some commonly encountered non-insect arthropods (springtails, spiders, woodlice, etc.) are also included.

Definitions
Pest – a kind of insect which has the potential to damage museum collections by eating or soiling objects or labels, or to provide a nuisance or health hazard to museum staff and visitors.
Environmental indicator – a kind of insect which lives in environmental conditions (e.g.
temperature/humidity) that are unsuitable for collections, and whose presence can be used to infer unsuitable conditions for collections.
There is some overlap between what is a pest and an environmental indicator since some pests, e.g. silverfish, can be used to infer that environmental conditions are unsuitable.

A practical approach to identification
While there are about 20,000 species of insect in Britain, only about 40 species are Museum pests in the UK. This means that traditional complicated identification keys are not necessary and pest species can be recognised by simple aspects of their appearance, such as size, shape, colour, form of the antenna, etc., and it is possible to learn the common types fairly quickly. This booklet allows for the recognition of major groups: beetles, moths, booklice, silverfish and others, and then matching with known pest species. Mostly the features necessary for identification can be seen on specimens stuck on sticky traps. With experience a good hand lens and good lighting should be sufficient to identify most pests; a binocular microscope is helpful but not essential. However not all specimens will be identifiable. Where known, the habitat, feeding habits and type of damage can also give a clue to the type of pest since different pests prefer to eat different things and feed in different ways. It is advisable to form a small reference collection containing the representative specimens of the pest species occurring locally to compare unknown insects against. Ideally these will be verified by an expert.

Keeping up to date
Pests can change status over time, and new pests will colonise the British Isles, so species not included in this booklet will be found in future. Do refresh your knowledge periodically and keep in touch with fellow IPM reps. For example termites and carpenter ants are not yet a problem in UK Museums but may well become so as climate change progresses.

Further study
References are included at the end for further study if desired but are not essential.

Full text

.

David G. Notton
Department of Life Sciences, Insects Division, Darwin Centre - room 315, The
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom.
d.notton@nhm.ac.uk.
Suggested citation: Notton, D.G. 2018. Identifying insect pests in museums and heritage buildings. 2nd
Edition. The Natural History Museum, London.
Copyright The Natural History Museum, 2018.

Contents
Introduction to pest identification.......................................................................................................1
Quick photographic reference for pest beetles, beetle larvae and moths..............................................2
Beetle pests and environmental indicators........................................................................................10
Carpet beetles
Australian carpet beetle - Anthrenocerus australis .................................................................................11
A carpet beetle - Anthrenus fuscus ..........................................................................................................12
Guernsey carpet beetle - Anthrenus sarnicus..........................................................................................13
Varied carpet beetle - Anthrenus verbasci...............................................................................................14
Two-spotted carpet beetle - Attagenus pellio .........................................................................................15
Brown carpet beetle - Attagenus smirnovi ..............................................................................................16
A carpet beetle - Megatoma undata .......................................................................................................17
Museum nuisance - Reesa vespulae ........................................................................................................18
Berlin beetle - Trogoderma angustum.....................................................................................................19
Odd Beetle - Thylodrias contractus..........................................................................................................20
Hide beetles
Larder beetle - Dermestes lardarius.........................................................................................................21
Hide beetle - Dermestes maculatus .........................................................................................................22
Peruvian hide beetle - Dermestes peruvianus .........................................................................................23
Spider beetles
Hump spider beetle - Gibbium psylloides ................................................................................................24
Golden spider beetle - Niptus hololeucus ................................................................................................25
White-marked spider beetle - Ptinus fur..................................................................................................26
Australian spider beetle - Ptinus tectus ...................................................................................................27
Furniture beetle and allies
Furniture beetle - Anobium punctatum ...................................................................................................28
Cigarette beetle - Lasioderma serricorne.................................................................................................29
Biscuit beetle - Stegobium paniceum.......................................................................................................30
Death watch beetle - Xestobium rufovillosum .........................................................................................31
Other wood borers
Bamboo borer - Dinoderus minutus.........................................................................................................32
A wet wood weevil - Euophryum confine.................................................................................................33
House longhorn beetle - Hylotrupes bajulus............................................................................................34
Powder-post beetle - Lyctus brunneus.....................................................................................................35
Wharf borer - Nacerdes melanura ...........................................................................................................36
Moth pests and environmental indicators .........................................................................................37
White-shouldered house moth - Endrosis sarcitrella ..............................................................................38
Brown house moth - Hofmannophila pseudospretella ............................................................................39
Yellow-backed clothes moth - Monopis crocicapitella.............................................................................40
Pale-backed clothes moth - Monopis obviella .........................................................................................40
Indian meal moth - Plodia interpunctella.................................................................................................41

Case-bearing clothes moth - Tinea pellionella......................................................................................... 42
Webbing clothes moth - Tineola bisselliella ............................................................................................ 43
Tapestry moth - Trichophaga tapetzella ................................................................................................. 44
Booklice pests and environmental indicators.....................................................................................45
A booklouse - Liposcelis bostrychophila .................................................................................................. 46
Silverfish and allied pests..................................................................................................................47
Grey silverfish - Ctenolepisma longicaudata ........................................................................................... 48
Four-lined silverfish - Ctenolepisma lineata ............................................................................................ 48
Silverfish - Lepisma saccharina ................................................................................................................ 49
Firebrat - Thermobia domestica .............................................................................................................. 50
Other pests ......................................................................................................................................51
Other insects and arthropods found in traps .....................................................................................53
Further reading ................................................................................................................................60
Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................................62

1
Introduction to pest identification
Scope
This booklet is designed to allow practical
identification of pest insects and some insects
which are environmental indicators Museums and
other heritage buildings in the British Isles, as
part of IPM pest monitoring, some commonly
encountered non-insect arthropods (springtails,
spiders, woodlice, etc.) are also included.
Definitions
Pest – a kind of insect which has the potential to
damage museum collections by eating or soiling
objects or labels, or to provide a nuisance or
health hazard to museum staff and visitors.
Environmental indicator – a kind of insect which
lives in environmental conditions (e.g.
temperature/humidity) that are unsuitable for
collections, and whose presence can be used to
infer unsuitable conditions for collections.
There is some overlap between what is a pest
and an environmental indicator since some pests,
e.g. silverfish, can be used to infer that
environmental conditions are unsuitable.
A practical approach to identification
While there are about 20,000 species of insect in
Britain, only about 40 species are Museum pests
in the UK. This means that traditional complicated
identification keys are not necessary and pest
species can be recognised by simple aspects of
their appearance, such as size, shape, colour,
form of the antenna, etc., and it is possible to
learn the common types fairly quickly.
This booklet allows for the recognition of major
groups: beetles, moths, booklice, silverfish and
others, and then matching with known pest
species.
Mostly the features necessary for identification
can be seen on specimens stuck on sticky traps.
With experience a good hand lens and good
lighting should be sufficient to identify most pests;
a binocular microscope is helpful but not
essential. However not all specimens will be
identifiable.
Where known, the habitat, feeding habits and
type of damage can also give a clue to the type of
pest since different pests prefer to eat different
things and feed in different ways.
It is advisable to form a small reference collection
containing the representative specimens of the
pest species occurring locally to compare
unknown insects against. Ideally these will be
verified by an expert.
Keeping up to date
Pests can change status over time, and new
pests will colonise the British Isles, so species not
included in this booklet will be found in future. Do
refresh your knowledge periodically and keep in
touch with fellow IPM reps. For example termites
and carpenter ants are not yet a problem in UK
Museums but may well become so as climate
change progresses.
Further study
References are included at the end for further
study if desired but are not essential.

2
Quick photographic reference for pest beetles, beetle
larvae and moths
Carpet beetles
Vari-coloured scales, NB scale shape for Anthrenus species
A carpet beetle
Guernsey carpet beetle
Anthrenus fuscus
A
n
threnus sarnicus
Varied carpet beetle
A carpet beetle
Berlin beetle
(male)
Anthrenus verbasci
Megatoma undata
Trogoderma angustum
Hairy not scaly
Australian carpet
beetle
Two
-
spotted carpet beetle
Brown carpet beetle
Museum nuisance
Anthrenocerus australis
Attagenus
pellio
Attagenus smirnovi
Reesa vespulae

3
Carpet Beetles (continued)
Atypical with larva like female and slender male
Female
male
Odd beetle
Thylodrias contractus
Hide beetles
Larder beetle
Peruvian hide beetle
Dermestes lardarius
Dermestes
peruvianus
Hide beetle
-
upper, under and wing case tips
Dermestes maculatus

4
Carpet beetle and Hide beetle larvae
Stout, body bristly, large dense short tail tufts
Guernsey carpet beetle
Varied carpet beetle
A carpet beetle (skin)
A
n
threnus sarnicus
Anthrenus verbasci
Megatoma undata
NB Anthrenus larvae of all kinds are best recorded as
Anthrenus sp.
Moderately elongate, bristly body, long tail hairs
NB for identification purposes these are best recorded as
Anthrenocerus/Trogoderma/Reesa sp.
Australian carpet beetle
Berlin beetle
Museum nuisance
Anthrenocerus australis
Trogoderma angustum
Reesa vespulae
Torpedo shaped - body not bristly
NB record all as Attagenus sp.
Two
-
spotted carpet beetle
Brown carpet beetle
Attagenus pellio
Attagenus smirnovi
Carpet beetle and Hide beetle larvae (continued)

5
Row of hairs like eye-lashes
Odd beetle
T
h
ylodr
i
as contractus
Large, dark, bristly, two tail horns (urogomphi)
NB record all as Dermestes sp.
Hide beetles
Dermestes
sp.

6
Spider beetles
Hump spider beetle
Golden spider beetle
Gibbium psylloides
Niptus hololeucus
Australian spider beetle
female
male
White-marked spider beetle
Ptinus tectus
Ptinus fur

7
Furniture beetle, Biscuit beetles and allies
Compare size, profile, colour and wing-case sculpture
Cigarette beetle
Lasioderma serricorne
Biscuit beetle
Stegobium paniceum
F
urniture beetle
Anobium punctatum
Death watch beetle
Xestobium rufovillosum

8
Beetles - other wood-boring beetles
Bamboo
b
orer
W
et wood weevil
Dinoderus minutus
Euophryum confine
House longhorn beetle
Powder
-
post beetle
Hylotrupes bajulus
Lyctus brunneus
Wharf borer
Nacerdes melanura

9
Moths
Brown house moth
Yellow
-
backed
clothes moth
/P
ale
-
backed clothes moth
Hofmannophila pseudospretella
Monopis
spp
.
White
-
shouldered
house
moth
Case
-
bearing clothes moth
Endrosis sarcitrella
Tinea pellionella
Indian meal moth
Webbing clothes moth
Plodia interpunctella
Tineola bisselliella
Tapestry moth
Trichophaga tapetzella

10
Beetle pests and environmental indicators
Order Coleoptera
Beetles are winged; the first pair of wings (elytra or wing cases) is hardened and
shell-like, and close over the hind wings protecting them. The body is usually sturdy
and compact with a hard shell. Shape is generally oval, or for wood borers, more or
less cylindrical or parallel sided. Six legs are well developed and the antennae vary in
shape but are often short and clubbed. Museum pests and environmental indicator
species are mostly small to medium sized. Body length: 1.5-15 mm. Some non-pest
species may enter buildings occasionally (see non-pest insects below).
Adult beetles
.
The life cycle has four
stages: egg, larva (or
grub), pupa and adult
beetle.
The larvae can be
free-living e.g. the
bristly larvae ‘woolly
bears’ of carpet
beetles, or barely
mobile grubs for
species which live
inside wood or other
plant material. The
latter are rarely seen
on traps.

11
Australian carpet beetle - Anthrenocerus australis
Identification: adult
Shape: rounded.
Colour: dark brown to reddish brown and wing cases
each with four weak bands of white hairs.
Antennae: short, with a compact club.
Body length 2.5-3 mm.
Similar species: Anthrenusis are similar but
Anthrenocerus has hairs not scales on wing cases.
Identification: larva
Larvae have long hairs on the body, short brushes of
hairs on the last few tail segments and a long tuft of
hairs at the hind end of the body.
Larvae of Anthrenocerus are less stout and have
smaller brushes of hairs than Anthrenus and are not
as elongate as Attagenus which have no brushes of
hairs.
The larvae of Anthrenocerus australis,Reesa
vespulae and Trogoderma angustum are hard to
distinguish without microscopic examination, and
need to be referred to an expert, or confirmed from
adults in the same infestation.
Signs of damage
The larvae will eat wool fur, feathers and other
animal proteins and their products, also bird nests,
and have been often found in wool fluff and food
detritus under floor boards.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible
on the larger larval skins.
Status
Not usually outdoors, a minor pest in Britain in
commercial and domestic buildings. An introduced
species (1933) now increasing. Similar food
preferences to other carpet beetles and ability to live
inside buildings, suggest it has potential to become
a more serious pest.
Anthrenocerus australis adult
Anthrenocerus australis larva
Anthrenocerus australis larval skin, feeding
damage and frass on wool textile

12
A carpet beetle - Anthrenus fuscus
Identification: adult
Shape: rounded.
Colour: usually dark with minute scales which are
predominantly black, with some white scales forming an ill-
defined pattern.
Antennae, short, clubbed.
Body length 1.7-2.8 mm.
Similar species: the three Anthrenus species presented here
may be distinguished by the shape of the scales under high
magnification, narrow triangular in A. fuscus, broad triangular in
A. sarnicus and petal shaped in A. verbasci. Compared to A.
verbasci, A. fuscus is typically small and dark, and A. sarnicus
large and pale.
Other carpet beetles with scales have a more elongate body
shape, than the Anthrenus species.
Identification: larva
Anthrenus larvae are short and stout with long body hairs and
conspicuous brushes of hair on the last few segments.
Identification to species is difficult and requires microscopic
examination.
For recording purposes larvae are best referred to as
Anthrenus sp. and confirmed from associated adults.
Signs of damage
Larvae eat wool, fur, feathers, dead insects, and live in spider
webs, the nests of insects and mammals, in out buildings and
sheds.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass and cast
larval skins. Each larva produces several skins as it moults.
Larval features are often visible on the larger larval skins.
May be a useful indicator of poor building hygiene such as bird
nests, and dirty attics and outbuildings.
Status
Not usually a pest indoors, living mostly outside/unheated
outhouses, or attics, although it is commonly found around and
often enters buildings. Most likely to be a pest in poorly heated,
humid buildings.
Anthrenus fuscus adult
Anthrenus fuscus adult, detail of wing cases,
showing
triangular scale shape, inset is a single scale

13
Guernsey carpet beetle - Anthrenus sarnicus
Identification: adult
Shape: rounded.
Colour: black with a pattern of minute white, reddish-
brown and black scales.
Antennae: short clubbed.
Body length 2.6-3.2 mm.
Similar species: the three Anthrenus species
presented here may be distinguished by the shape
of the scales under high magnification, narrow
triangular in A. fuscus, broad triangular in A.
sarnicus and petal shaped in A. verbasci. Compared
to A. verbasci, A. fuscus is typically small and dark,
and A. sarnicus large and pale. Other carpet beetles
with scales have a more elongate body shape, than
the Anthrenus species.
Identification: larva
Anthrenus larvae are short and stout with long body
hairs and conspicuous brushes of hair on the last
few segments. Identification to species is difficult
and requires microscopic examination, although
Anthrenus sarnicus is generally a paler, more honey
colour than Anthrenus verbasci which is more
reddish brown.
For recording purposes larvae are best referred to
as Anthrenus sp. and confirmed from associated
adults.
Signs of damage
The larvae will eat bird and mammal skins, insect
specimens, wool and silk textiles.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible
on the larger larval skins.
Status
An introduction to Britain (1963), now widespread
and common in some museums, where it can be a
serious pest. It appears to be replacing Anthrenus
verbasci, possibly because of its more rapid life
cycle and interspecific predation.
Anthrenus sarnicus adult
Anthrenus sarnicus, detail of wing cases, with
triangular scales, inset is a single scale
Anthrenus sarnicus larvae
Anthrenus sp. larval skins, frass and feeding
damage on a tortoise specimen

14
Varied carpet beetle - Anthrenus verbasci
Identification: adult
Shape: rounded.
Colour: black with a pattern of minute black, white
and reddish-brown scales.
Antennae: short clubbed.
Body length1.7-3.2 mm.
Similar species: the three Anthrenus species
presented here may be distinguished by the shape
of the scales under high magnification, narrow
triangular in A. fuscus, broad triangular in A.
sarnicus and petal shaped in A. verbasci.
Compared to A. verbasci, A. fuscus is typically
small and dark, and A. sarnicus large and pale.
Other carpet beetles with scales have a more
elongate body shape, than the Anthrenus species.
Identification: larva
Anthrenus larvae are short and stout with long body
hairs and conspicuous brushes of hair on the last
few segments. Identification to species is difficult
and requires microscopic examination, although
Anthrenus sarnicus is generally a paler, more
honey colour than Anthrenus verbasci which is
more reddish brown.
For recording purposes Anthrenus larvae are best
referred to as Anthrenus sp. and confirmed from
associated adults.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: bird and mammal skins, insect
specimens, wool textiles and animal glue.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible
on the larger larval skins.
Status
A long established and common pest species, living
inside and outside buildings in Britain, although it
appears to have declined where Anthrenus sarnicus
has become established.
Anthrenus verbasci adult
Anthrenus verbasci adult, detail of wing cases, showing
triangular scale shape, inset is a single scale
Anthrenus verbasci larvae
Anthrenus verbasci larvae, feeding damage on wool textile.

15
Two-spotted carpet beetle -Attagenus pellio
Other name: Fur beetle
Identification: adult
Shape: oval.
Colour: black with a spot of white scale-like hairs
on each wing case (hence the common name)
and three more such white spots on the thorax.
Antennae: short, clubbed.
Body length 4.5-5.5 mm.
Similar to Attagenus smirnovi but easily
distinguished by colour.
Identification: larva
Larvae are torpedo shaped, the body hairs are
short and there is a long tail tuft, but no short
brushes on the last few tail segments.
Other Attagenus species very similar and for
recording purposes it is best to refer to them as
Attagenus sp., and confirm the identification from
associated adults.
Signs of damage
The larvae will eat wool, fur, feather, silk, animal
skins and cereals.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible
on the larger larval skins.
Status
Widespread, and common in southern Britain,
both indoors and out, and an established pest in
commercial and domestic buildings.
Attagenus pellio adult
Attagenus pellio larva
Attagenus pellio larvae

16
Brown carpet beetle - Attagenus smirnovi
Other name: Vodka beetle –not recommended - there is no association with
vodka, it is named after a man called Smirnov, not the vodka Smirnoff)
Identification: adult
Shape: oval.
Colour: head black to brown, usually distinctly darker
than the lighter brown to yellowish-brown wing cases.
Antennae: short, clubbed, the male antenna has a long
sausage-shaped club.
Body length 2-5 mm.
The wing cases have fine dense hairs which distinguish
Attagenus smirnovi from scaled Anthrenus species, and
from Reesa vespulae which has coarser, more
upstanding hairs. Attagenus unicolor, the Black carpet
beetle, is rare in Britain but very similar, usually darker
and with the thorax and head the same shade. It has
similar habits to A. smirnovi and the potential to be a
pest, so if suspected seek expert confirmation.
Identification: larva
Larvae are torpedo shaped dark brown with reddish
brown hairs. The body hairs are short and there is a long
tail tuft, but no short brushes on the last few tail
segments. Larvae of other Attagenus species are very
similar and are best recorded as Attagenus sp., and the
identification confirmed from associated adults.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: bird and mammal skins, insect
specimens and wool textiles, also dried plants and
seeds. Often found in dust bunnies, which can
accumulate in dead spaces in museum galleries and
stores – dust bunnies are usually made up of hair, textile
fibre, and human skin flakes. Signs of infestation are
neatly chewed holes, frass and cast larval skins. Each
larva produces several skins as it moults. Larval features
are often visible on the larger larval skins. The adults are
active fliers and attracted to lights, and can be detected
by examining light fittings or windowsills.
Status
A recent introduction (1978) now well established in
England in domestic premises and museums and a
significant and increasing pest.
Attagenus smirnovi adult
Attagenus smirnovi larvae
Attagenus smirnovi larval skins in a dust bunny which
supported a significant infestation

17
A carpet beetle - Megatoma undata
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate oval.
Colour: black with distinctive and bold pattern of
white scales, forming two zig-zag bands on each
wing case, and three spots on the thorax.
Antennae short, strongly clubbed.
Body length 3.6-5.0 mm.
Superficially similar to Trogoderma angustum
but easily distinguished by the larger size and
brighter pattern, which is formed by scales rather
than hairs.
Identification: larva
Full grown larvae appear like an oversized
Anthrenus although a little more elongate.
Megatoma larvae have distinct black bands
across the front of the first three segments, even
visible in the larval skin pictured here.
Signs of damage
This species is normally found under the bark of
dead trees and on walls, barn, in association
with nests and burrow of other insects and
spiders. The specimen pictured here was reared
from a nest of the Red mason bee Osmia
bicornis. There is a recorded instance where an
insect collection in a domestic building was
attacked; the building had mason bee nest
boxes outside, which may have been the source
of the infestation.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes,
frass and cast larval skins. Each larva produces
several skins as it moults. Larval features are
often visible on the larger larval skins.
Status
A widespread species normally found outdoors
and not usually associated with buildings, only
rarely a pest.
Megatoma undata adult
Megatoma undata larval skin

18
Museum nuisance -Reesa vespulae
Other names: American wasp beetle
Identification: adult
Shape: oval.
Colour: black to dark brown with an oblique light reddish
mark near the base of the wing cases.
Antennae: short, weakly clubbed.
Body with long hairs.
Size 2-4 mm.
Reesa vespulae is superficially similar to Attagenus
smirnovi but can be distinguished by the colour pattern
and longer more upstanding hairs, which give Reesa a
more shaggy appearance.
Identification: larva
Larvae have long hairs on the body, short brushes of
hairs on the last few tail segments and a long tuft of hairs
at the hind end of the body. Reesa larvae are less stout
and have smaller brushes of hairs than Anthrenus
species and are not as elongate as Attagenus species
which have no brushes of hairs. The larvae of
Anthrenocerus australis,Reesa vespulae and
Trogoderma angustum are hard to distinguish without
microscopic examination and need to be referred to an
expert of identification is required, or confirmed from
adults in the same infestation.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: Insect specimens can be damaged
severely, larvae can thrive in fluff under insect cabinets,
also vegetable material especially seeds. Signs of
infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass and cast larval
skins. Each larva produces several skins as it moults.
Larval features are often visible on the larger larval skins.
Males not needed for reproduction, females reproduce
without fertilization, so one larva entering a drawer of
insects can start a colony which entirely destroys the
contents. Adults are active fliers and come to light, and
can be found in light fittings or on windowsills.
Status
A recent introduction (1997) uncommon, mainly indoors
or close to buildings, but now widespread and increasing.
A severe pest of entomology collections in museums.
Reesa vespulae adult
Reesa vespulae larvae
Reesa vespulae frass and larval skins – the dung beetle
has been hollowed out.

19
Berlin beetle - Trogoderma angustum
Other name: Stockholm beetle
Identification: adult
Shape: body elongate, males parallel sided, the
females slightly widened behind.
Colour: dark, elytra can be red marked, each with
three distinct bands of white.
Antennae: short, weakly clubbed.
Body length 2-4 mm.
Body is more elongate than most other carpet
beetles.
Identification: larva
Larvae have long hairs on the body, short
brushes of hairs on the last few tail segments
and a long tuft of hairs at the hind end of the
body.
Trogoderma larvae are less stout and have
smaller brushes of hairs than Anthrenus species
and are not as elongate as Attagenus species
which have no brushes of hairs.
The larvae of Anthrenocerus australis,Reesa
vespulae and Trogoderma angustum are hard to
distinguish without microscopic examination and
need to be referred to an expert of identification
is required, or confirmed from adults in the same
infestation.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: herbarium specimens,
including flowering plants and mycological
specimens; bird mounts.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes,
frass and cast larval skins. Each larva produces
several skins as it moults. Larval features are
often visible on the larger larval skins.
Status
First recorded in Scotland (1998) and England
(2000), now an established pest but still
uncommon.
Trogoderma angustum adult male
Trogoderma angustum larvae and skins
Trogoderma angustum larval damage - a slime mould specimen
with larvae and cast skin.

20
Odd beetle -Thylodrias contractus
Identification: adult
This species belongs to the carpet beetle family
but has an unusual appearance hence the
common name Odd beetle.
Shape: the females are wingless, superficially
resembling a carpet beetle larva, but have a
uniform covering of short soft hairs instead of
bristle tufts. The males look more like beetles but
compared to other carpet beetles are slender,
delicate and have long spindly legs.
Colour: yellowish brown (females), brown with
yellowish brown wing cases and legs (male).
Antennae: short, unclubbed (female), long,
unclubbed (male).
Body length 2-5 mm (female), 2-3 mm (male).
Pictures show wingless female above and winged
males below.
Identification: larva
The larva has a very distinct appearance; each
segment has a neat row of hairs, giving the
appearance of a set of false eyelashes!
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: herbarium specimens.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible
on the larger larval skins.
Because of the distinctive bristles, even badly
damaged larvae or larval skins (pictured) are easily
recognisable on sticky traps.
Status
Rare in Britain usually only seen as an import, but
one long standing colony is established in the
herbarium of the Natural History Museum, London.
Thylodrias contractus female
Thylodrias contractus males
Thylodrias contractus larval skin

21
Larder beetle - Dermestes lardarius
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow oval.
Colour: body black, the base of the wing cases has a
pattern of greyish hairs.
Antennae: short with a compact club.
Other characters: the end of each wing case does not
have a spine (compare Dermestes. maculatus).
Body length 7-9 mm.
Identification: larva
Dermestes larvae are black, bristly and have a pair of
stout curved spikes on the tail. Larvae are hard to
identify to species without detailed microscopic
examination, and best recorded as Dermestes sp.
unless confirmed by associated adults.
Signs of damage
The larvae naturally eat carcasses whether moist or
dry, leaving only bones, also stored meat products
hence the name larder beetle, and in museums,
animal specimens and artefacts, occasionally on
vegetable material.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes, frass
and cast larval skins. Each larva produces several
skins as it moults. Larval features are often visible on
the larger larval skins.
Status
A serious pest in warehouses and food premises, and
a minor household pest.
Dermestes lardarius adults
Dermestes sp. larva, all Dermestes larvae are similar

22
Hide beetle - Dermestes maculatus
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate oval.
Colour: black, wing cases uniformly dark, sides
of thorax with a border of greyish hairs. The
underside has whitish hairs.
Antennae: short, with compact club.
Other characters: the end of each wing case has
a spine.
Body length 5.5-10 mm.
Pictures show two views from above, underside
showing whitish hairs, and spines on tip of wing
cases.
Identification: larva
Dermestes larvae are black, bristly and have a
pair of stout curved spikes on the tail. Larvae are
hard to identify to species without detailed
microscopic examination, and best recorded as
Dermestes sp. unless confirmed by associated
adults.
Signs of damage
The larvae naturally eat carcasses whether moist
or dry, leaving only bones, also stored meat
products hence the name larder beetle, and in
museums, animal specimens and artefacts,
occasionally on vegetable material. Larvae may
attack the carcasses of rodents which have died
in undisturbed places in buildings. This species
is used in zoology museums for defleshing
skeletons – of course these cultures must be
kept well separate from zoology collections!
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes,
frass and cast larval skins. Each larva produces
several skins as it moults. Larval features are
often visible on the larger larval skins.
Status
A serious pest on animal products in commercial
premises, not a household pest.
Dermestes maculatus adults
Dermestes maculatus adult, underside and
tip of wing cases showing spines
Dermestes maculatus dried larva; and hind body with two spikes
.
Dermestes sp. larvae which have eaten a dead rat carcass.

23
Peruvian hide beetle - Dermestes peruvianus
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate oval.
Colour: uniformly dark, thorax and underside of
body with fine golden hairs.
Antennae: short, with compact club.
Other characters: the end of each wing case does
not have a spine (compare Dermestes.
maculatus).
Body length 7-9 mm.
Identification: larva
Dermestes larvae are black, bristly and have a
pair of stout hooks on the tail. Larvae are hard to
identify to species without detailed microscopic
examination. The larva of D. peruvianus is similar
to that of D. maculatus figured above.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: The larvae naturally eat
carcasses and stored/waste meat products,
occasionally vegetable material.
Signs of infestation are neatly chewed holes,
frass and cast larval skins. Each larva produces
several skins as it moults. Larval features are
often visible on the larger larval skins.
Status
An introduced species (1954) now established
and the commonest Dermestes in domestic
premises.
Dermestes peruvianus adult
Dermestes peruvianus adult
Dermestes peruvianus breeding site in accumulated
food residue behind kitchen unit

24
Hump spider beetle -Gibbium psylloides
Other names: This species has been confused with Gibbium aequinoctiale
and the names Smooth spider beetle and Shiny spider beetle are best
avoided as both names have been used for both species at various times)
Identification: adult
Shape: body droplet shaped, humped,
with head hidden under thorax, and long
legs, giving a spider like appearance.
Colour: dark brown beetle legs and
antennae covered in yellowish scales
Antennae: long, unclubbed.
Other characters: wing cases polished,
very shiny, with no pits or lines.
Body length 2.5 mm.
This species has often been confused
with Gibbium aequinoctiale from which it
may be separated only by microscopic
examination. For recording purposes it
should be referred to as Gibbium sp.
unless confirmed by an expert.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy
grub with a brown head capsule. It is hard
to separate from other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
The larvae will eat a wide range of
vegetable and animal materials, stored
food products, and have even been
known to attack Egyptian mummies.
Signs of infestation are the holes and
frass made by the larva. Larvae are not
usually visible as they feed concealed in
the food. They form a globular cocoon for
pupation, and may bore into and damage
nearby materials when preparing
pupation sites.
Status
A stored product pest in buildings, this
species is an uncommon introduction to
Britain, occasionally establishing itself.
Gibbium psylloides adult

25
Golden spider beetle -Niptus hololeucus
Identification: adult
Shape: body narrowed between head and
thorax, globular hind body, head hidden under
thorax and long legs give it spider like
appearance
Colour: body brown, densely covered with a
mixture of small golden scales and longer
outstanding golden hairs.
Antennae: long, unclubbed.
Body length 3-4 mm.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub
with a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate
from other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: the larvae will eat a wide
range of both dried animal and plant material,
including stored products, scavenging in rodent
nests and droppings in buildings, and attacking a
range of museum specimens and organic
artefacts.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass made
by the. Larvae are not usually visible as they
feed concealed in the food.
Status
Widespread and established, warehouses and
domestic buildings, more of a scavenger than a
major stored product pest.
Niptus hololeucus adult

26
White-marked spider beetle - Ptinus fur
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow, the male almost parallel side, the
female more rounded. The body is narrowed
between head and thorax, and with long legs
giving a spider like appearance.
Colour: brown, with two tufts of white hairs on
the thorax and a variable number of small white
hair patches on the wing cases.
Antennae: long, unclubbed.
Other characters: the male has large prominent
eyes, has longer antennae and is more slender
than the female.
Body length 2.5-4 mm.
This species is more elongate and has longer
antennae than the other spider beetles featured
here.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub
with a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate
from other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
The larva feeds on a wide range of vegetable
and animal materials, and stored products, and
will attack museum collections.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass made
by the larva. Larvae are not usually visible as
they feed concealed in the food.
Status
A widely established stored product pest,
although less common than its relative Ptinus
tectus.
Ptinus fur female
Ptinus fur male

27
Australian spider beetle -Ptinus tectus
Identification: adult
Shape. Body narrowed between head and thorax, head
hidden under thorax and long legs give a spider-like
appearance.
Colour: reddish brown, hairs brown, without contrasting
white hairs.
Antennae: long, unclubbed
Body length 3-4 mm.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub with a
brown head capsule. It is hard to separate from other
such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: will eat both dried animal and plant
material, common in buildings especially in attics and bird
nests. Will attack a wide range of food products, museum
specimens and animal and plant based artefacts.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass made by the
larva. Larvae are not usually visible as they feed
concealed in the food.
Status
A common and long established pest species in domestic
and commercial premises.
Ptinus tectus adult
Ptinus tectus larvae
Ptinus tectus larvae and frass on damaged herbarium
sheet.

28
Furniture beetle -Anobium punctatum
Other names: Woodworm
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow, beetles with distinctly humped
thorax, and head hidden underneath.
Colour: dull dark grey/brown.
Antennae: short, with slender 3-segmented club.
Body length 3-5 mm.
Anobium punctatum is similar to Stegobium
paniceum and Lasioderma serricorne but are
darker and, in side view, have a humped thorax.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub with
a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate from
other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: larvae eat sapwood of many
hardwoods such as oak and ash, and wood
composites such as plywood made with protein
based (casein) glues. Wooden artefacts (treen)
with unfinished surfaces are more at risk as the
female beetle prefers to lay eggs in rough wood.
Will also attack books (also known as bookworm),
NB similar feeding damage to books may
occasionally be caused by Stegobium paniceum.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass
released by the adult exiting the wood. Larvae are
not usually visible as they feed concealed in the
food. Heavy infestations can leave wood
honeycombed and crumbly.
Status
A serious domestic pest commonly found in wood
framed roofs or floor boards/joists.
Anobium punctatum adult
Side view in outline of Lasioderma, Stegobium and Anobium for
comparison of thorax shape and proportions.

29
Cigarette beetle -Lasioderma serricorne
Identification: adult
Shape: oval, with distinctly humped thorax, and
head hidden underneath.
Colour: reddish brown.
Antennae: uniquely serrate (saw-like)
Body length 2-3 mm.
Lasioderma serricorne is similar to Anobium
punctatum and Stegobium paniceum but have
shiny wing cases without obvious lines and saw-
like antennae.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub with
a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate from
other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
The larva will eat dried food, tobacco, plant
specimens, freeze dried animal specimens and
taxidermy mounts.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass
released by the adult exiting the food. Larvae are
not usually visible as they feed concealed in the
food.
Status
This species is a common worldwide stored
product pest,
.
Lasioderma serricorne adults
Lasioderma serricorne adult beetles with frass
Larval feeding damage and frass on parrot specimen

30
Biscuit beetle -Stegobium paniceum
Other names: Drug store beetle, Bread beetle)
Identification: adult
Shape; elongate oval, with distinctly humped
thorax, and head hidden underneath.
Colour: reddish brown.
Antennae: short, with slender 3-segmented club.
Size 2-3 mm body length.
Stegobium paniceum is similar to Anobium
punctatum and Lasioderma serricorne differing
from Anobium in being reddish brown and not
having the thorax humped in side view and from
Lasioderma in having distinct lines on the wing
cases and a weak three segmented antennal
club.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub with
a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate from
other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Materials damaged: a major stored product pest
of seeds, grains and flour, attacking dried food
and spices, especially starchy plant specimens,
seed heads, papier maché (starch glue) and
freeze dried animal specimens. May live in
discarded seed/bread in bird nests. Does not feed
on wood. Signs of infestation are the neatly
chewed exit holes and frass released by the adult
exiting the food. Larvae are not usually visible as
they feed concealed in the food. The adults are
active fliers and attracted to lights, and can be
detected by examining light fittings or windowsills.
Status
This species is a common worldwide stored
product pest,
Stegobium paniceum adults
Stegobium paniceum larva removed from burrow
Stegobium paniceum larval feeding damage to herbarium sheet
Stegobium paniceum larval feeding damage to manioc root

31
Death watch beetle -Xestobium rufovillosum
Identification: adult
Shape; elongate oval, with distinctly humped
thorax, and head hidden underneath.
Colour: dark brown with a mottled pattern caused
by golden hairs.
Antennae: short, with slender 3-segmented club.
Body length 5-7 mm.
Most similar in general appearance to Anobium
punctatum, but easily separated by larger size
and golden hairs.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub with
a brown head capsule. It is hard to separate from
other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Larvae eat hardwood. Especially oak and elm,
which has been damp, especially massive
structural timbers in old buildings, where they
have become damp, e.g. when socketed into
external walls.
Signs of infestation are the large exit holes (c. 3
mm diameter) and coarse rounded frass released
by the adult exiting the wood. Larvae are not
usually visible as they feed concealed in the food.
Timber may become structurally unsound.
The name Death watch comes from the tapping
sound made by adult beetles.
Status
A serious and established timber pest in old
buildings.
Xestobium rufovillosum adult

32
Bamboo borer - Dinoderus minutus
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow, cylindrical, with distinctly
humped thorax, and head hidden
underneath.
Colour. black to dark brown
Antennae: short with compact 3-
segmented club.
Other characters: wing cases with distinct
thimble-like punctures, but not arranged in
lines; front of thorax with rough texture like
the teeth of a file.
Body length 2.5-3 mm.
Best recorded as Dinoderus sp. as other
similar species of Dinoderus may be
found, unless the species is confirmed by
an expert.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy
grub with a brown head capsule. It is hard
to separate from other such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
The larvae usually feed on fresh, starchy
wood, particularly bamboo.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass
released by the adult exiting the wood.
Larvae are not usually visible as they feed
concealed in the food.
Status
Usually occurring as an import from
tropical countries.
Dinoderus minutus adults

33
Wet wood weevil - Euophryum confine
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate cylindrical weevil with
distinctive narrow snout, and short legs.
Colour: dark brown to reddish brown
Antennae: short, elbowed, and clubbed.
Other characters: wing cases shiny with
small deep pits, the pits in lines.
Body length 2.5-4 mm.
There are three similar wet wood weevils
found in Britain: Euophryum confine,
Euophryum rufum and Pentarthrum
huttoni. They can only be separated by
microscopic examination, although E.
confine is the commonest. For recording
purposes it is best to refer to them as
Euophryum/Pentarthrum sp. unless
confirmed by an expert.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy
grub with a brown head capsule. It is
hard to separate from other such beetle
grubs.
Signs of damage
The larvae attack really damp wood,
usually with some fungal decay.
Signs of infestation are the holes (c. 1
mm diameter) and frass released by the
adult exiting the wood. Larvae are not
usually visible as they feed concealed in
the food.
Status
A frequent pest in buildings, however
dispersing beetles may be helpful in
drawing attention to concealed problems
with wet wood.
Euophryum confine adults
Euophryum confine adult

34
House longhorn beetle - Hylotrupes bajulus
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate, flattened body, head
visible from above, thorax rounded, wing
cases parallel sided.
Colour: dark brown to black with grey
woolly hairs around thorax and tufts on
wing cases.
Antennae: long, unclubbed
Body length 7-25 mm.
Identification: larva
Larva is elongate, flattened, ivory
coloured, front end club shaped, and with
a small head.
Signs of damage
The larva eats dry coniferous timbers,
especially in roof voids and attics.
Signs of infestation are the holes and
frass released by the adult exiting the
wood. Exit holes are typically oval,
reflecting the flattened shape of the larva
and adult. Larvae are not usually visible
as they feed concealed in the food, but
may be detectable by the rasping sounds
they make.
Status
An important pest of structural timbers in
Europe, established in England, also
imported in packing cases which may be
the source of infestations.
Hylotrupes bajulus adult

35
Powder-post beetle -Lyctus brunneus
Identification: adult
Shape: elongate, parallel sided, flattened
body.
Colour: reddish brown.
Antennae: short, compact club.
Other characters: wing cases with fine
grooves.
Body length 3-7 mm.
Identification: larva
The larva is a fat whitish c-shaped hairy grub
with a humped thorax and a brown head
capsule. It is hard to separate from other
such beetle grubs.
Signs of damage
Larvae eat a wide variety of deciduous
hardwoods, usually fresh sap wood with high
starch/sugar content. Poorly seasoned timber
is vulnerable, for example, parquet flooring
and wall panels.
Signs of infestation are the holes (1.5-2 mm
diameter) and fine powdery frass released by
the adult exiting the wood. Larvae are not
usually visible as they feed concealed in the
food.
Status
Established infestations are rare, normally
introduced from countries with warmer
climates.
Lyctus brunneus adult
Lyctus brunneus adult

36
Wharf borer - Nacerdes melanura
Identification: adult
Shape; Elongate, flattened, wing cases more
or less parallel sided.
Colour: yellowish brown, covered with fine
dense yellow hairs, the tip of the wing cases
and the legs black.
Antennae: long, unclubbed.
Body length 8-12 mm.
Similar to some common non-pest soldier
beetles, e.g. Rhagonycha fulva, but Nacerdes
can be distinguished by having three lines
along each wing case, and four segmented
hind tarsi.
Identification: larva
The larva is cylindrical, whitish, with short
legs and a stout head capsule. There are
constrictions between the body segments and
distinct protuberances on some segments.
Signs of damage
The larvae eat saturated wood; usually wharf
pilings and ships timbers, but also timber
building supports in basements.
Signs of infestation are the holes and frass
made when exiting the wood. Larvae are not
usually visible as they feed concealed in the
food.
Status
Established in Britain, mainly southern and
coastal.
Nacerdes melanura adult
Nacerdes melanura larvae

37
Moth pests and environmental indicators
Order Lepidoptera
Moths are winged, with two pairs of wings; the wings are membranous and covered
with fine scales which are easily rubbed off. Body usually slender. 6 legs well
developed. Antennae long, slender and many segmented, not clubbed. Museum pests
and environmental indicator species are mostly small. Larger moths may enter
buildings occasionally but are not pests! (see non-pest insects below).
Adult moths
The life cycle has four
stages: egg, larva (or
caterpillar), pupa and adult
moth.
The larvae are small, soft,
pale-coloured caterpillars
with a brown head capsule,
often making silk cases or
webbing in which to hide.

38
White-shouldered house moth -Endrosis sarcitrella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally
held flat.
Colour: wings grey, mottled with black, head
and front of thorax contrasting white.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed. Palps
curved back over the end.
Wingspan 13-20 mm.
Identification: larva
Body soft, whitish, head capsule and plate
behind it brown. Very similar to other pest
moth larvae and hard to identify to species
without detailed microscopic identification.
Signs of damage
The larva will feed on a wide variety of damp
dead or decaying animal or plant material,
stored cereals, rotten food and paper, dead
insects, and detritus in bird nests. In museums
protein based material is most at risk, e.g.
wool, fur, and feathers, bird and mammals
skin, however, they rarely damage clean dry
textiles.
Signs of infestation - The larva spins a silken
gallery mixed with frass.
This species may indicate poor cleanliness, for
example, that bird nests may be present on
buildings, or poor humidity control.
Status
A very widespread and established pest in
domestic buildings.
Endrosis sarcitrella adult

39
Brown house moth -Hofmannophila pseudospretella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally held
flat.
Colour: wings brown mottled and spotted with
black.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed. Palps
curved back over the head.
Wingspan 16-25 mm.
Usually somewhat larger than Tineola bisselliella,
with broader streaked wings.
Identification: larva
Body soft, greyish cream, head capsule reddish
brown and plate behind it yellowish. Very similar
to other pest moth larvae and hard to identify to
species without detailed microscopic
identification.
Signs of damage
This species will feed on a wide variety of damp
dead animal and plant material, including cotton
seeds, grains, dried skins, dead insects including
museum specimens, decaying mammal
carcasses and refuse in bird nests; however, they
rarely damage clean dry textiles.
Signs of infestation - The larva spins a silken
gallery mixed with frass.
This species may indicate poor cleanliness, for
example, that bird nests may be present on
buildings, or poor humidity control.
Status
A very widespread and established pest in
domestic buildings.
Hofmannophila pseudospretella adult
Hofmannophila pseudospretella larval head capsule

40
Yellow-backed clothes moth - Monopis crocicapitella
Pale-backed clothes moth - Monopis obviella
Other names: Obvious moth (M. obviella) but this is not a good name as it
is very similar to M. crocicapitella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally
held around the body.
Colour: wings dark brown with a cream/yellow
streak along the hind margin, more or less
spotted/mottled with pale marks.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed. Palps
inconspicuous.
Wingspan 10-16 mm.
Monopis crocicapitella and M. obviella are both
variable in colour and only reliably separated by
examination of the dissected genitalia. Best
recorded as Monopis sp., unless identified by a
specialist.
Identification of larva.
The larva of M crocicapitella has the body soft,
whitish, head capsule brown with margins
darkened and plate behind it pale yellow,
divided medially. M. obviella is probably similar.
The larvae are similar to other pest moth larvae
and hard to identify to species without
microscopic examination.
Signs of damage
These moths will feed on wool, seeds, stored
cereal products, bird nests, and the pellets of
birds of prey. Larvae are not known to attack
museum collections but likely have the potential
to become pests because they share a similar
food preference to other museum pest moths
and are often found around buildings.
This species may indicate poor cleanliness, e.g.
that bird nests may be present on buildings.
Status
Both species are widespread and established in
Britain, and are potential museum pests.
Monopis crocicapitella adult from above
Monopis crocicapitella, adult from side
Monopis adults captured on Tineola pheromone trap

41
Indian meal moth -Plodia interpunctella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings
normally held around the body.
Colour: base of the wing pale buff and
the tip contrasting dark
reddish/brownish or blackish.
Antennae: long, slender, and
unclubbed. Palps forward pointing.
Wingspan 14-20 mm.
Identification: larva
Body soft, yellowish white, pinkish or
greenish, head capsule and plate
behind it yellowish brown, the head
dark marked below. Very similar to
other pest moth larvae and hard to
identify to species without detailed
microscopic identification.
Signs of damage
The larva eats stored grain, dried
fruits, nuts, dried roots, herbs and
dried insects.
Signs of infestation - It spins a silken
web amongst the food, mixed with
frass.
Status
Widespread and common, a frequent
and abundant warehouse pest,
continually reintroduced with imported
foodstuff. Less common in museums.
Plodia interpunctella adult
Plodia interpunctella larva

42
Case-bearing clothes moth -Tinea pellionella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally held
around the body.
Colour: wings covered in silver grey scales with
scattered dark scales, forming indistinct spots.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed. Palps
inconspicuous.
Wingspan 9–16 mm.
A number of similar Tinea species are found in
Britain which are only separable by dissection,
although T. pellionella appears to be the most
frequent in buildings.
Identification: larva
Body soft, whitish, head capsule and plate behind
it brown. Larvae of Tinea species build a
characteristic flask shaped cocoon (up to 8 mm
long) from fragments of food, which they carry
around with them like a caddis-fly case.
Signs of damage
Larvae will eat wool, hair, fur and feathers,
causing great damage to taxidermy mounts, also
bird nests, owl pellets and a variety of stored
animals products, wool and silk textiles. Signs of
infestation are feeding damage, frass, the larger
cocoons are obvious but the smaller
larvae/cocoons can be hard to detect. This
species may indicate poor cleanliness, for
example, that bird nests may be present on
buildings.
Status
Established in Britain, a significant pests species
but much less common than Tineola bisselliella.
Tinea pellionella case showing arrangement of fibre
Tinea pellionella adult
Tinea pellionella adult
Tinea pellionella larva in case
Tinea pellionella feather damage and cases on a bird m

43
Webbingclothes moth - Tineola bisselliella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally held
around the body.
Colour: wings plain, unpatterned buff coloured
scales, with a glossy golden sheen. Head reddish
brown.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed. Palps
inconspicuous.
Wingspan 9-16 mm.
Identification: larva
Body soft, whitish, head capsule it brown and
plate behind it barely darkened. Very similar to
other pest moth larvae and hard to identify to
species without detailed microscopic
identification.
Signs of damage
The larva will eat protein based material, e.g.
wool, fur, feather, textiles (wool and silk), bird
and mammal skins. This species makes a flimsy
silk web (hence the English name) over the food,
mixed with round frass pellets. The frass is the
same colour as the food. When attacking
taxidermy they typically feed at the base of the
feathers where they are not visible, the extent of
the damage only becoming apparent when large
areas of plumage fall off.
Status
An abundant and destructive household pest, it
has increased greatly in recent years in domestic
buildings and museums. It is now the commonest
pest species at the Natural History Museum,
London.
Tineola bisselliella larval damage - bird mount missing
belly feathers.
Tineola bisselliella adult
Tineola bisselliella larvae, frass, webs and feeding damage on red
wool felt, the dust seal on a display case
Tineola bisselliella larva on a sticky trap and the larval head
capsule.
Tineola bisselliella webs on wool carpet.

44
Tapestrymoth - Trichophaga tapetzella
Identification: adult
Shape: narrow winged moth, wings normally
held around the body.
Colour: the base of the wing dark brown, the
tip of the wing contrasting whitish with a few
small black spots. Head white. When resting
the colouration gives it the appearance of a
bird dropping.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed.
Palps inconspicuous.
Body length 15-22 mm.
Identification: larva
Body soft, whitish, head capsule and plate
behind it brown. Very similar to other pest
moth larvae and hard to identify to species
without detailed microscopic identification.
Signs of damage
The larva eats fur, hair, feathers, either
naturally in bird nests, or the pellets of birds
of prey, or in manufactured items.
Signs of infestation - It feeds in a silken tube
amongst the food.
Status
Formerly common in unheated buildings and
a widespread, and troublesome pest, but has
declined greatly after WW2 and is now quite
rare indoors.
Trichophaga tapetzella adult - set specimen - natural resting
position is with wings rolled around body

45
Booklice pests and environmental indicators
Order Psocoptera
Booklice can be wingless, short-winged or winged, although the species found in
museums are usually wingless or short-winged. If they are winged there are two pairs
of wings, the wings are membranous and without scales. Body usually stubby, more
or less flattened. 6 legs, antennae long slender and many segmented. Museum pests
and environmental indicator species are small to minute; the pale-coloured nymphs
can be almost invisible to the naked eye. Body length, adults 1-2 mm. Some non-pest
species e.g. closely related bark lice which may enter buildings occasionally;
however these are usually fully winged (see non-pest insects below).
Adults and nymphs
The life cycle has three
stages, egg, nymph and
adult. There are no larvae,
the nymphs are like small
adults but are not sexually
mature and never have
wings.

46
A booklouse - Liposcelis bostrychophila
Other names: Psocid
Identification: adult
Shape: flattened body, wingless with narrow thorax.
Hind femora expanded and basally angled.
Colour: adults light brown, nymphs colourless.
Antennae: long, slender, and unclubbed.
Body length: adults up to 1.5 mm.
Liposcelis species are very hard to identify without
slide preparations and microscopic examination. There
are a number of species which are found in buildings
in Britain, of which L. bostrychophila was confirmed at
the Natural History Museum, London. Unless there is
specialist confirmation it is advisable to record them as
Liposcelis sp.
A number of other booklouse genera can be found in
buildings, such as Dorypteryx, Lepinotus and Trogium.
Liposcelis are distinguished from these other booklice
genera by being wingless and having the hind femora
(basal segment of the hind leg) greatly thickened and
angled near the base.
Identification: nymph
Nymphs are like small pale adults.
Signs of damage
Nymphs and adult booklice will eat papers, glues and
other starchy vegetable matter, stored products, and
dried insects particularly if slightly damp and mouldy.
booklice are named for their habit of living among old
books, manuscripts and papers that have lain
undisturbed for a while.
Signs of infestation - Larvae and adults scratch and
erode the surface of paper, card and insect
specimens. Damage can be very subtle as the
booklice are so small, but becomes apparent on close
examination, becoming more obvious over time.
Squashed bodies may stain papers and encourage
further pest attack.
Booklice generally favour areas of high humidity and
can be used as an environmental indicator, although
Liposcelis appear to have a higher tolerance of low
humidity than other booklice, and prefer warm
temperatures.
Status
Liposcelis are very common but overlooked pests in
domestic buildings, warehouses and museum stores.
Liposcelis sp. adult
Liposcelis sp.: adults (darker brown) and various sized
nymphs, the smallest are white, the larger ones brown
Liposcelis sp., dense infestation causing surface damage to paper.

47
Silverfish and allied pests
Order Thysanura
Silverfish and firebrats are wingless, even as adults. The body is carrot-shaped, with
a long tapered tail with three filaments. The body is covered with more or less silvery
scales which are easily rubbed off. 6 legs, the antennae and tail filaments long,
slender and many segmented. Body length up to 20 mm.
Adult silverfish and firebrats
The life cycle has three
stages, egg, nymph and adult.
There are no larvae, the
nymphs are like small adults
but are not sexually mature.

48
.
Grey silverfish -Ctenolepisma longicaudata
Identification: adult
Shape: body carrot shaped, tapered behind, and
flattened.
Colour; uniform silvery grey, scaled.
Antennae: antennae and tail filaments very long
and slender.
Other characters: obvious bristles at sides of
body.
Body length, adults up to 20 mm. Contracting on
traps as the body dries out.
Lepisma saccharina has shorter antennae and
tail filaments, no bristles at the sides of the body,
and is generally smaller.
Identification: nymph
Nymphs are like adults but smaller.
Signs of damage
Ctenolepisma longicaudata feeds by surface
abrasion and will eat a wide range of starchy
food, including breakfast cereal, damp papers,
glues, textiles, specimen labels and also dead
insects. Signs of infestation: surface damage and
eventually holes. Tolerant of lower humidity and
so can range further than Lepisma saccharina.
Status
A cosmopolitan pest species recently established
in Britain (2014) distribution rapidly expanding.
Ctenolepisma longicaudata adult
Ctenolepisma longicaudata adults and nymphs on sticky trap.
Four-lined silverfish -
Ctenolepisma lineata
Has four longitudinal dark stripes along the body.
Only found once in UK, a potentially pest

49
Silverfish - Lepisma saccharina
Other name: Fishmoth
Identification: adult
Shape: body carrot shaped, tapered behind, and
flattened.
Colour; uniform silvery grey, scaled.
Antennae: antennae and tail filaments long and
slender.
Other characters: without obvious bristles at the
sides of the body.
Body length, adults up to 15 mm. Contracting on
traps as the body dries out.
Compared to Ctenolepisma longicaudata,
Lepisma saccharina has shorter antennae and
tail filaments, no lateral bristles on the body, and
smaller maximum size.
Identification: nymph
Nymphs are just like adults but smaller.
Signs of damage
Lepisma saccharina feeds by surface abrasion
and will eat a wide range of starch food,
including damp papers, glues, textiles, specimen
labels and also dead insects. Silverfish require
localised humidity of >75% to breed so can be
used as an environmental indicator.
Status
A very common established pest in domestic
and commercial buildings in Britain.
Lepisma saccharina feeding damage on archival paper
Lepisma saccharina adult
Lepisma saccharina adults and various sized nymphs
Lepisma saccharina on sticky trap

50
Firebrat - Thermobia domestica
Identification: adult
Shape: body carrot shaped, tapered
behind, and flattened.
Colour; yellowish with conspicuous dark
bands/mottling due to covering of scales.
Antennae: antennae and tail filaments very
long and slender.
Other characters: with obvious bristles at
the sides of the body.
Body length, adults up to 15 mm.
Contracting on traps as the body dries out.
The colour will distinguish it from Lepisma
saccharina and Ctenolepisma longicaudata
which are both uniform grey, and the bristly
body from Lepisma which is less obviously
bristly. The dark bands go across the body
unlike Ctenolepisma lineata which has
dark lines along the body.
Identification: nymph
Nymphs are just like adults but smaller.
Signs of damage
Firebrats feed by surface abrasion and will
eat a wide range of starchy food, including
damp papers, glues, textiles, specimen
labels and also dead insects.
Firebrats require high temperatures and
some humidity to breed and can be used
as an environmental indicator.
Status
An occasionally established pest in
kitchens and bakeries, but less common
than Lepisma due to its requirement for
higher temperatures.
Thermobia domestica adult
Thermobia domestica damage to paper specimen label

51
Other pests
Oriental cockroach - Blatta orientalis
Very dark brown, almost black, forewings not quite
reaching tip of the body behind (male) or small pads
(female).
Body length, adults 17-30 mm.
Life cycle: eggs in egg capsule, nymph, adult. Living
indoors, requiring warmth and localised high humidity.
Significance: indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/ stored/ consumed/ disposed.
Also feeds in latrines and can transmit diseases.
Female (left), male (right).
German cockroach - Blattella germanica
Smaller than Blatta orientalis, straw coloured, thorax
with two stripes, adults fully winged.
Body length, adults 10-15 mm.
Life cycle: eggs in egg capsule, nymph, adult. Living
indoors, requiring warmth and localised high humidity.
Significance: indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/ stored/ consumed/ disposed.
Also feeds in latrines and can transmit diseases.
American cockroach - Periplaneta americana
Larger than Blatta orientalis, reddish brown, thorax
brown with pale margin, adults fully winged.
Body length, adults 28-44 mm.
Life cycle: eggs in egg capsule, nymph, adult. Living
indoors, requiring warmth and localised high humidity.
Significance: indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/ stored/ consumed/ disposed.
Also feeds in latrines and can transmit diseases.

52
Black garden ant - Lasius niger
Diagnosis: black fast moving, black/dark brown ant,
most are wingless workers. Reproductives – queens
and males – are winged. The queen shedding her
wings soon after mating.
Body length: worker 3.5-5 mm; queen 8-9 mm; male
3.5-5 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, forming persistent
colonies with queen (reproductive female), workers
(non-reproductive female) and males. Usually living
outside or in basements but can forage into buildings.
Significance: indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/ stored/ consumed/ disposed.
Can transmit diseases. Does not sting but can squirt
formic acid which causes a burning sensation.
Pharaoh's ant
-
Monomorium
pharaonis
Diagnosis: slow moving, tiny wingless, pale yellow
coloured ant. most are wingless workers. Reproductives
– queens and males – are darker coloured and winged.
The queen shedding her wings soon after mating.
Body length, workers 2 mm; queens 3.6-4.8 mm; males
3.0 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, forming persistent
colonies. Frequently in heated buildings feeding on fatty
and sugary substances including all kinds of food,
carrion dead insects.
Significance: Indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/stored/consumed/disposed.
Can transmit disease. Can bite and sting.
Worker (above) queen (below).
Vinegar flies
-
Drosophila
spp
.
Diagnosis: Small, two wings, brown/ black, some
species with red eyes.
Body length 2-3 mm.
Life cycle: larvae in decaying fruit or other organic
waste, kitchens/ latrines.
Significance: indicator of poor cleanliness in areas
where food is prepared/ stored/ disposed and in
latrines so can transmit disease.

53
Other insects and arthropods found in traps
These are not pests but may live in, or enter buildings. They may indicate
poor environmental conditions, particularly damp, or poor building
proofing and should be removed so that they do not provide food for
pests.
Millipedes – class Diplopoda
Diagnosis: Long cylindrical animals with
no wings many short legs, two pairs of leg
per segment, slow moving. Body length
up to 40 mm.
Life cycle: eggs, nymphs, adults, living in
soil and rotting vegetation.
Significance: Always live outdoors, so if
on traps indicate poor proofing.
Centipedes – class Chilopoda
Diagnosis: Long flattened animals with no
wings and many legs, one pairs of leg per
segment, fast moving predators. Body
length up to 40 mm.
Life cycle: egg, nymph, adult, living
outdoors.
Significance: Always live outdoors, so if
on traps indicate poor proofing.
Pseudoscorpions e.g. Book scorpion -
Chelifer cancroides
Diagnosis: small brown flattened, no
wings, with pair of pincers like a scorpion
(but no sting!). Body length up to 2 mm.
Life cycle: eggs, nymphs, adults, living as
predators of small insects.
Significance: Most pseudoscorpions live
outdoors but Chelifer cancroides live in
houses as a predator of booklice,
indicating a pest problem with high levels
of booklice.

54
Spiders – order Araneae
Diagnosis: no wings, eight legs and body
in two parts, legs usually long. Body
length up to 15 mm (excluding legs).
Life cycle: eggs, nymphs and adults,
living as predators of other insects, some
trap prey in webs, others are active
hunters.
Significance: Some spiders can live
indoors if there are sufficient insects for
them to eat, indicating
housekeeping/pest control are
inadequate. Other spiders may enter
from outside especially in autumn,
indicating poor building proofing.
Woodlice – order Isopoda
Diagnosis: flattened oval body covered
in grey, mottled armoured segments, no
wings, and 14 legs.
Body length up to 10 mm.
Life cycle: egg nymph, adults, living in
damp rotting wood and leaf litter.
Significance: Usually live outdoors, so
large numbers on traps indicate poor
proofing or damp conditions inside
buildings e.g. basements/round window
frames.
Springtails – order Collembola
Diagnosis: Cylindrical, wingless,
grey/mottled, long forked tail used for
jumping. Body length up to 3 mm.
Life cycle: egg, nymph (like small adults)
and adult. In damp places feeding on
mould/detritus.
Significance: Environmental indicator of
localised high humidity.

55
Barklice
–
order Psocoptera
Diagnosis: Small insects similar to
Booklice, but with fully developed wings.
Body length up to 2 mm.
Life cycle: egg, nymph, adult, living
outdoors in leaf litter, damp wood.
Significance: Usually live outdoors, so
large numbers on traps indicate poor
proofing or damp conditions inside
buildings e.g. basements/round window
frames.
Thrips or thunder bugs – order
Thysanoptera
Diagnosis: very tiny thin insects, usually
black, with short antennae and a short
tube at the rear. Body length up to 1 mm.
Life cycle: egg, nymph, non-feeding
nymph, adult, feeding on fungi and plants.
Significance: Usually outdoors, some
cereal infesting species are very common
and in warm humid weather form large
swarms which enter buildings. Large
numbers on traps indicate poor proofing.
Can creep inside picture frames and stain
pictures.
.
Fungus beetle
s
–
family
Cryptophagidae e.g. Cryptophagus
acutangulus
Diagnosis: small light brown beetles,
antenna with a loose club. Side of thorax
with angled projections.
Body length up to 2 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larvae, pupae, adult,
feeding on mould.
Significance: in damp areas, new plaster,
condensation on window frames, leaking
pipes, sinks – environmental indicators of
damp - check for leaks, condensation etc.!
Cryptophagus acutangulus adult and larvae of close relative Cryptophagus
lycoperdi.

56
Plaster beetles
–
family Latridiidae
(
genera
Adistemia, Cartodere, Corticaria & Dienerella)
Diagnosis: small light brown beetles, antenna with a
loose club, thorax slender, and wing-cases grooved.
Body length up to 2 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larvae, pupae, adult, feeding on mould.
Significance: associated with damp areas, new plaster,
condensation on window frames, leaking pipes, sinks –
these species are environmental indicators of damp
conditions - check for leaks, condensation etc.! Adistemia watsoni adult, underside
Dienerella filum adult, Dienerella filum larvae .Corticaria punctulata, adult
Ground beetles – family Carabidae
Diagnosis: a diverse family of active predatory beetles,
with prominent jaws and long antennae, black, brown
or metallic. Body length up to 25 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, larvae and adults are
predatory.
Significance: live outdoors, so large numbers on traps
indicate poor proofing.
Clover weevils – Sitona spp.
Diagnosis: brown or green beetles with a short snout
and elbowed antennae. Body length up to 5 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, both larva and adult
feed on legumes.
Significance: Always live on plants outdoors, so large
numbers on traps indicate poor proofing.

57
Cl
ick beetles
–
family Elateridae
Diagnosis: elongate black or brown beetles,
helmet shaped thorax and lined wing cases.
Adults are able to jump by clicking their
thorax back suddenly. Body length up to 15
mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, larvae live
outside feeding on plants, in soil, compost,
rotten wood, and so.
Significance: the adults are intruders. Large
numbers on traps indicate poor proofing.
Rove beetles – family Staphylinidae
Diagnosis: black brown, reddish, elongate
beetles, the short wing cases do not cover
the hind body and give these beetles an
earwig-like appearance. Body length up to 25
mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, both larva
and adult are predators or scavengers.
Significance: Always live outdoors, so if found
on traps indicate poor proofing.
Mealworm beetles – family Tenebrionidae
Diagnosis: black elongate slow moving
beetles. Body length up to 15 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, both larva
and adult feed on vegetable materials and
stored products.
Significance: often occur in bird nests so can
indicate an environmental problem in
buildings - tie to clean out chimneys, gutters
and roof spaces.

58
Ladybird beetles – family Coccinellidae
Diagnosis: black red white yellow more or
less spotted rounded beetles. Body length up
to 7 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult, both larva
and adult are predators.
Significance: Live outdoors, some enter
buildings to hibernate, esp. Harlequin ladybird
Harmonia axyridis. If found on traps indicate
poor proofing. Toxins from Harmonia may
cause allergic reaction.
Harmonia axyridis, adults various colour forms
Moths
–
order Lepidoptera
Diagnosis: four large scaly wings. Body
length up to 40 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult, mostly
larva live outside as they eat plants.
Significance: Live outdoors, but sometimes
entering buildings, especially if attracted to
light. If found on traps indicate poor proofing.
Most moths (except the pest species above)
are not pests, all pest moths are small, so
larger moths are not pests.
Cluster fly – Pollenia rudis
Diagnosis: medium-sized grey fly with two
wings. Body length up to 10 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult, larva
live outside and are predators of earthworms,
adult.
Significance: Live outdoors, but entering
buildings in autumn to hibernate, especially
attics, sometimes in vast numbers, indicating
poor proofing. May cause staining at roosting
sites.
Pictures shows adult fly and accumulated
dead flies on window sill, a fine meal for a
carpet beetle!

59
Lacewings – order Neuroptera
Diagnosis: delicate insects with four large
lacy wings, green or brown. Body length up to
15 mm.
Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult, larva
live outside and are useful predators e.g. of
aphids.
Significance: Live outdoors, but entering
buildings, especially attics, in autumn to
hibernate, so large numbers on traps indicate
poor proofing.
A parasitic wasp - Laelius pedatus
Tiny black wasp, four wings, wasp waist.
Body length: 3 mm. Life cycle: egg, larva,
pupae, adult, parasitic on the larvae of
carpet beetles.
Significance: Environmental indicator of
high/persistent populations of carpet
beetle larvae.
Other species may be found which are
parasites of Anobium punctatum. Also
some outdoor species may occasionally
enter from outside.

60
Further reading
General Identification
Bravery, A., Berry, R. W., Carey, J. & Cooper, D. 1987. Recognising wood rot and insect damage in buildings,
Building Research Establishment. http: //www.brebookshop.com/samples/140308.pdf.
Chinnery, M. 2009. British Insects: A photographic guide to every common species.
Creffield, J. W. 1991. Wood destroying insects: Wood borers and termites, Melbourne, Australia, CSIRO Publishing.
Crossman, A. & Pinniger, D. B. 2015. What's Eating Your Collection? from http:
//www.whatseatingyourcollection.com/. Accessed 27 Sep. 2017.
Kingsley, H., et al. (eds.). 2001). Integrated Pest Management for Collections. Proceedings of 2001: A Pest Odyssey,
1-3 October 2001. London, London: James and James.
Mound, L. (ed.). 1989 Common insect pests of stored food products. A guide to their identification. London, British
Museum (Natural History).
Mourier, H. & Winding, O. 1986. Collins guide to wild life in house and home, London and Glasgow, UK, Collins.
O'Connor, J. P. & Ashe, P. 2000. Irish indoor insects. Town House.
Pinniger, D. B. 2004. Pest Management in Museums, Archives and Historic Houses.https:
//www.archetype.co.uk/publication-details.php?id=70.
Pinniger, D. B. 2008. Pest management: A practical guide, London, UK, Collections Trust.
Pinniger, D. B. & Meyer, A. 2015. Integrated pest management for cultural heritage, London, UK, Archetype
Publications.
Pinniger, D. B., Xavier-Rowe, A. & Lauder, D. 2009. A Helpful Guide to Insect Pests found in Historic Houses and
Museums, London, English Heritage and the Collections Trust. Poster, A2 format. https: //www.english-
heritage.org.uk/about-us/contact-us.
Rees, D. P. 2004. Insects of stored products, Australia, CSIRO and Manson Publishing.
Tilling, S. M. 1987. A key to the major groups of terrestrial invertebrates. Field Studies 6: 695-766. http: //www.field-
studies-council.org/publications.aspx.
Beetles
Bellés, X. & Halstead, D. G. H. 1985. Identification and geographical distribution of Gibbium aequinoctiale Boieldieu
and Gibbium psylloides (Czenpinski) (Coleoptera: Ptinidae). Journal of Stored Products Research 21: 151-
155.
Morris, M. G. 2002. True Weevils (Part 1) Coleoptera: Curculionidae (Subfamilies Raymondionyminae to
Smicronychinae). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 5(17b): 1-149. [identification of wet-
wood weevils, Pentarthrum and Euophryum]http: //www.field-studies-council.org/publications/res-
handbooks.aspx.
Peacock, E. R. 1993. Adults and larvae of hide, larder and carpet beetles and their relatives. Handbooks for the
Identification of British Insects 5(3). http: //www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol05_Part03_MainText.pdf
and http: //www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol05_Part03_FigsIndex.pdf.
Pinniger, D. B. & Harvey, Y. 2007. The Stockholm beetle Trogoderma angustum - a new risk to herbarium collections.
NatSCA News 12: 2-3. http: //www.natsca.org/article/205 [now usually called Berlin beetle].
Sacher, B. & Brierley, L. 2013. Beetles often overlooked in collections. International Conference on IPM in Museums,
Archives and Historic Houses. (5 - 7 June 2013). Vienna, Austria, Royal Museums Greenwich. http:
//museumpests.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Minute-Brown-Scavenger-Beetle-Info-Sheet.pdf.
Takano, H., Garner, B. H. & Barclay, M. V. L. 2012. Megatoma undata (Linnaeus) (Dermestidae) attacking dry insect
specimens in a collection. Coleopterist 21(3): 113.
Moths
Emmet, A. M., Langmaid, J. R., Bland, K. P., Fletcher, D. S., Harley, P. M., Robinson, G. S., Skinner, B. & Tremewen,
W. G. (eds.) 2002. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland v. 4(1), Oecophoridae – of
Endrosis and Hofmannophila - Oecophoridae].
Goater, B. 1986. British pyralid moths: A guide to their identification. Harley Books, Colchester. Pp 175. [Identification
of Plodia interpunctella].

61
Heath, J., Emmet, A. M., Fletcher, D. S., Pelham-Clinton, E. C., Skinner, B. & Tremewen, W. G. (eds.) 1985. The
Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland v. 2, Cossidae - Heliodinidae, Colchester, UK: Harley
Books. [identification of Tinea, Monopis, Tineola, Trichophaga – Tineidae].
Kimber, I. 2015. UKmoths: online guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland.http: //www.ukmoths.org.uk/.
Accessed 1 Sep. 2016.
Robinson, G. S. 1979. Clothes moths of the Tinea pellionella complex: A revision of the World's species (Lepidoptera:
Tineidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 38 (3): 57-128. http:
//www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/785.
Booklice
New, T. R. 1974. Psocoptera. Handbooks for the identification of British insects 1(7): 1-102. http:
//www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol01_Part07.pdf [superseded by 2006 edition, but free to
download].
New, T. R. 2006. Psocids. Psocoptera (Booklice and Barklice) (2nd ed.). Handbooks for the Identification of British
Insects 1(7): 1-146. http: //www.field-studies-council.org/publications/res-handbooks.aspx.
Robinson, J. 2017. Dorypteryx longipennis Smithers, 1991, (Psocoptera: Psylliposocidae) new to Scotland.
Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 153: 80.
Saville, B. 2016. National Barkfly Recording Scheme (Britain and Ireland). http:
//www.brc.ac.uk/schemes/barkfly/homepage.htm. Accessed 2016.
Silverfish and relatives
Delaney, M. J. 1954. Thysanura and Diplura. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 1 (2). [Does not
include Ctenolepisma longicaudata]. http: //www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol01_Part02.pdf.
Goddard, M., Foster, C. & Holloway, G. 2016. Ctenolepisma longicaudata (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae) new to Britain.
British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 29: 33-35. https:
//www.researchgate.net/publication/301552078_Ctenolepisma_longicaudata_Zygentoma_Lepismatidae_ne
w_to_Britain.
Other insects
Bächli, G., Vilela, C. R., Escher, S. A. & Saura, A. 2004. The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark,
Brill Academic Publishers. [Vinegar flies - Drosophilidae. See http: //www.dipteristsforum.org.uk for
supplementary references].
Coe, R. L., Freeman, P. & Mattingly, P.F. 1950. Diptera - 2. Nematocera: families Tipulidae to Chironomidae
(Trichoceridae - Culicidae). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 9(2ii). http:
//www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol09_Part02_2_Trichoceridae-Culicidae.pdf [Drain flies -
Psychodidae. Free download. See http: //www.dipteristsforum.org.uk for supplementary references].
Fonseca, E. C. M. d'Assis. 1965. A short key to the British Drosophilidae (Diptera) including a new species of Amiota.
Transactions of the Society for British Entomology 16: 233-244. [Vinegar flies - Drosophilidae. See http:
//www.dipteristsforum.org.uk for supplementary references].
Marshall, J. A. & Haes, E. C. M. 1988. Grasshoppers and allied insects of Great Britain and Ireland, Harley Books.
Notton, D. G. 2016. IPM News: The parasitic wasp Laelius pedatus, a parasitoid of museum beetles, is now
established at the Natural History Museum, London. NatSCA Notes and Comments, 4: 1-3.
Notton, D. G., Popovici, O. A., Van Achterberg, C., De Rond, J. & Burn, J. T. 2014. Parasitoid wasps new to Britain
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1-20.

62
Acknowledgements
David Pinniger, Suzanne Ryder and Armando
Mendez for support and inspiration in many ways.
David Lees for discussion on identification of
micro moths, Max Barclay for drawing my
attention to a record of Megatoma undata
attacking an insect collection.
Image credits
Many of the images are sourced by and
reproduced with kind permission of David
Pinniger, Suzanne Ryder and Armando Mendez.
The images of Ptinus fur are used under Creative
Commons Attribution Licence credited to Udo
Schmidt
https://www.flickr.com/photos/coleoptera-
us/27833028903/in/photostream/,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/coleoptera-
us/28448978325/in/photostream/.
The image of Trichophaga tapetzella is used
under Creative Commons Attribution Licence
credited to Sarefo https:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_moth#/media/File:
Trichophaga.tapetzella.mounted.jpg.
The image of a thrips is used under Creative
Commons Attribution Licence credited to Josef
Reischig https:
//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Thrips_(265_03).jpg.
The image of Harmonia axyridis is used with
attribution to @entomart
http://home.tiscali.be/entomart.ins/
The image of Tenebrio molitor is used under
Creative Commons 4.0 with attribution to Didier
Descouens of the Tolouse Museum

63
Index
Adistemia watsoni, 68
American cockroach, 62
American wasp beetle, 22
Anobium punctatum, 7, 34, 35, 36, 38, 72
Anthrenocerus australis, 2, 4, 13, 22, 24
Anthrenus fuscus, 2, 14, 15
Anthrenus sarnicus, 2, 15, 16, 17
Anthrenus verbasci, 2, 4, 16, 17
Araneae, 65
Athrenus sarnicus, 4
Attagenus pellio, 2, 4, 18
Attagenus smirnovi, 2, 4, 18, 19, 20, 22
Attagenus unicolor, 20
Australian carpet beetle, 2, 4, 13
Australian spider beetle, 6, 33
Bamboo borer, 8, 39
Barklice, 67
Beetles, 12, 74
Berlin beetle, 2, 4, 23
Biscuit beetle, 7, 36
Black carpet beetle, 20
Black garden ant, 63
Blatta orientalis, 62
Blattella germanica, 62
Book scorpion, 65
Booklice, 56, 75
Brown carpet beetle, 2, 4, 19
Brown house moth, 10, 47
Carabidae, 68
Carpenter ants, 1
Carpet beetles, 2, 4
Cartodere, 68
Case-bearing clothes moth, 10, 51
Centipedes, 64
Chelifer cancroides, 65
Chilopoda, 64
Cigarette beetle, 7, 35
Click beetles, 70
Clover weevils, 69
Cluster fly, 71
Coccinellidae, 71
Coleoptera, 12
Collembola, 66
Corticaria punctulata, 68
Cryptophagidae, 67
Cryptophagus acutangulus, 67
Cryptophagus lycoperdi, 67
Ctenolepisma lineata, 59, 61
Ctenolepisma longicaudata, 58, 60, 61
Death watch beetle, 7, 37
Dermestes, 5
Dermestes lardarius, 3, 25, 26
Dermestes maculatus, 3, 27
Dermestes peruvianus, 3, 28
Dienerella filum, 68
Dinoderus minutus, 8, 39
Diplopoda, 64
Drosophila, 64
Elateridae, 70
Endrosis sarcitrella, 10, 45
Euophryum confine, 8, 40
Euophryum rufum, 40
Firebrat, 61
Fishmoth, 59
Four-lined silverfish, 59
Fungus beetles, 67
Furniture beetle, 7, 34
German cockroach, 62
Gibbium aequinoctiale, 29, 30
Gibbium psylloides, 6, 29, 30
Golden spider beetle, 6, 30
Grey silverfish, 58
Ground beetles, 68
Guernsey carpet beetle, 2, 4, 15
Harmonia axyridis, 71
Hide beetle, 3, 27
Hide beetles, 3, 4, 5
Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 10, 47
House longhorn beetle, 8, 41
Hump spider beetle, 6, 29
Hylotrupes bajulus, 8, 41
Indian meal moth, 10, 50
Isopoda, 65
Lacewings, 72
Ladybird beetles, 71
Laelius pedatus, 72
Larder beetle, 3, 25
Lasioderma serricorne, 7, 34, 35, 36
Lasius niger, 63
Latridiidae, 68
Lepidoptera, 44, 71
Lepisma saccharina, 58, 59, 60, 61
Liposcelis bostrychophila, 56
Lyctus brunneus, 8, 42
Mealworm beetles, 70
Megatoma undata, 2, 4, 20, 21
Millipedes, 64
Monomorium pharaonis, 63
Monopis, 10
Monopis crocicapitella, 48, 49
Monopis obviella, 48
Moths, 10, 44, 71, 74

64
Museum nuisance, 2, 4, 22
Nacerdes melanura, 9, 43
Neuroptera, 72
Niptus hololeucus, 6, 30, 31
Obvious moth, 48
Odd beetle, 3, 5, 24, 25
Oriental cockroach, 62
Osmia bicornis, 21
Pale-backed clothes moth, 10, 48
Parasitic wasp, 72
Pentarthrum huttoni, 40
Periplaneta americana, 62
Peruvian hide beetle, 3, 28
Pharaoh's ant, 63
Plaster beetles, 68
Plodia interpunctella, 10, 50
Pollenia rudis, 71
Powder-post beetle, 8, 42
Pseudoscorpions, 65
Psocid, 56
Psocoptera, 55, 67
Ptinus fur, 6, 32
Ptinus tectus, 6, 32, 33
Red mason bee, 21
Reesa vespulae, 2, 4, 13, 20, 22, 24
Rove beetles, 70
Shiny spider beetle, 29
Silverfish, 57, 59, 60, 75
Sitona, 69
Smooth spider beetle, 29
Spider beetles, 6
Spiders, 65
Springtails, 66
Staphylinidae, 70
Stegobium paniceum, 7, 34, 35, 36
Stockholm beetle, 23
Tapestry moth, 10, 54
Tenebrionidae, 70
Termites, 1
Thermobia domestica, 61
Thrips, 67, 76
Thylodrias contractus, 3, 5, 24, 25
Tinea pellionella, 10, 51
Tineola bisselliella, 10, 47, 51, 52, 53
Trichophaga tapetzella, 11, 54
Trogoderma angustum, 2, 4, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Two-spotted carpet beetle, 2, 4, 18
Varied carpet beetle, 2, 4, 16
Vinegar flies, 64
Vodka beetle, 19
Webbing clothes moth, 10, 52
Wet wood weevil, 8, 40
Wharf borer, 9, 43
White-marked spider beetle, 6, 32
White-shouldered house moth, 10, 45
Wood-boring beetles, 8
Woodlice, 65
Woodworm, 34
Xestobium rufovillosum, 7, 37, 38
Yellow-backed clothes moth, 10, 48