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Pantry Beetles, Grain Weevils, Spider Beetles, Meal Worms and Carpet Beetles

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Household Pests

Hi,
I have found these guys a couple of times in my bathroom and was wondering what they were.
Sebastian Sparenga

Hi Sebastian,
What a detailed photo of a Spider Beetle from the genus Mezium. They are household pests. These tiny beetles will infest grain as well as exotic substances like cayenne, tobacco and opium. We doubt that you have an opium stash in your bathroom, but perhaps they are feasting on pet food, or shudder, the dead remains of an animal in the wall. Occasionally they will even eat woolens and other non-synthetic fibers.

Expert Update: (05/22/2008) spider beetle errors
Dear Bugman,
I believe I had written earlier when looking at many of the spider beetle pictures. Almost all of the shiny brown, globular body, images are of Gibbium aequinoctiale and not Mezium species. There is a combined 2 image photo (finger and beetle & 2 beetles) of Mezium : the answer was posted by Eric Eaton, I believe. Gibbium species do not have a velvety covering on the thorax, Mezium species do. You should correct your website postings so people will have a better idea of what they have been finding. Best regards,
Lou
Louis N. Sorkin, B.C.E.
Entomology Section
Division of Invertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
New York

Dear Lou,
Thanks so much for resending this vital correction to our website. We really appreciate your expertise on this. We sincerely hope that addressing you with such familiarity doesn’t detract from your professional status.

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