What's Eating Your Collection?

Brown carpet beetle or Vodka beetle Attagenus smirnovi

Adult male beetle


Size: 4-6mm

Shape: oval

Colour: brown with black head and thorax

Antennae: Final segment is one long club.

Distinguishing features: covered in very short downy hairs. Females are usually larger than males with a shorter antennal club.

Larvae are pests of: wool and organic debris

Damage: usually cast skins and frass

Adults eat: very little

Often found on: organic debris in  dead spaces and voids in historic houses and museums. Mainly confined to London in the UK but an important pest in parts of Northern Europe where it is known as the Brown Carpet beetle.


Female Attagenus smirnovi
Drawing of adult

Brown carpet beetle or Vodka beetle Attagenus smirnovi

100%
Female Attagenus smirnovi
Drawing of adult