Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
White-marked spider beetle

White-marked spider beetle

Ptinus fur

A species of Ptinus, Also known as Common spider beetle

White-marked spider beetle is a storage pest widely spread across the world.

General Info About White-marked spider beetle
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of White-marked spider beetle
Colors
Brown
Black
Habitat
food storage; dried and decaying animal and vegetable material ; museum; nest of birds
Adult Food Sources
Dried plant materials, natural fabrics, woolen products, animal remains, stored dry food
Larva Food Source
Dried plant materials, animal fibers like wool, natural fibers such as cotton, dead insects, some types of food products
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The White-marked spider beetle feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of White-marked spider beetle
Widespread
Rectangle
Distribution Area of White-marked spider beetle
Nearly cosmopolitan distribution
Rectangle
Life Cycle of White-marked spider beetle
Egg After hatching, the egg of white-marked spider beetle reveals a larva that varies in color from its surroundings, often being a creamy white. Tiny and elliptical, these eggs are minute and barely distinguishable to the naked eye.
Larva As larvae, white-marked spider beetle undergo several molts, growing progressively larger. They are grub-like, with a soft, elongating body primarily designed for feeding and growth, featuring chewing mouthparts for consumption of organic materials.
Pupal In the pupal phase, white-marked spider beetle forms a protective cocoon or pupa which encases the developing organs and structures. Here, the creature undergoes significant transformation, its body restructuring into the adult form, although remaining stationary.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult white-marked spider beetle's development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
Rectangle
Adult Size of White-marked spider beetle
2 - 4.5 mm
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About White-marked spider beetle
White-marked spider beetle can feign death as a defense mechanism, folding their legs and remaining motionless when threatened, effectively evading predators.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of White-marked spider beetle
Class
Bugs
Icon allow
Order
Beetles
Icon allow
Genus
Ptinus
Icon allow
Tips for Finding White-marked spider beetle
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of White-marked spider beetle
Rotting and Decaying Matter, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of White-marked spider beetle
Rotting and Decaying Matter, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
How Can You Attract White-marked spider beetle
A suitable trap for white-marked spider beetle could involve using materials or foodstuff that attract them. For instance, if white-marked spider beetle are known to feed on certain natural fibers or stored products, setting up traps with these as bait could be effective.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of White-marked spider beetle Through Different Life Stages
The larval stage of white-marked spider beetle typically dwells in dark and undisturbed areas, often found within animal nests, wall cavities, or in accumulated organic debris like bird or rodent nests. To find larvae, one should search these secluded environments. Pupae are usually concealed close to the larval food source; hence, inspecting nearby the last known larval habitation is practical. Adults of white-marked spider beetle are also attracted to dim spaces but are more mobile and might roam towards drier, wooden structures, such as the cracks in floorboards or old furniture. For locating adults, checking the nooks of seasoned wood items and the peripheries where wall meets floor could yield success.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find White-marked spider beetle at Different Life Stages
Larva White-marked spider beetle larvae might be hidden within food sources or materials they consume. To find them, inspect infested food products, cracks in the flooring, or other crevices where they could be feeding or developing.
Pupal White-marked spider beetle pupae are usually sessile and can be found in protected places close to their larval feeding grounds. Look for them inside infested materials or in secluded spots nearby.
Adult White-marked spider beetle adults could be found near potential mates or food sources. Searching at night with a light source might attract flying white-marked spider beetle, while inspecting storage areas could reveal white-marked spider beetle that are hiding or feeding.
Are White-marked spider beetle harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free

White-marked spider beetles, a type of spider beetle, infest stored food and damage other personal and public property.

Rectangle

Where do White-marked spider beetle come from?

Overly high humidity. The white-marked spider beetle likes, and is easily drawn to, indoor spaces with higher humidity.
Animal dens. Animal dens inside or near human living quarters attract the white-marked spider beetle. Having those dens around largely increases the chances of it entering indoor spaces.
Image
Enters through narrow seams. The white-marked spider beetle is tiny in size and can sneak into indoor spaces through various narrow seams, cracks, and unsealed doors and windows.
Traces food sources to enter. The white-marked spider beetle is drawn into indoor spaces proactively by the smell of unsealed food inside.
Enters passively. When people move white-marked spider beetle-infested items, they are taken into homes passively.
Image
Rectangle

What is the most effective prevention against White-marked spider beetle?

The key to preventing a white-marked spider beetle infestation relies largely on the cleanliness and tidiness of home living spaces.
Use better storage methods. Improper storage methods could cause mildew to form on solid foods, which then emit a moldy smell that's highly attractive to pests.
Image
Reduce indoor humidity. A dry environment significantly reduces the chances of breeding pests.
Remove bird nests and insect dens. The white-marked spider beetle feeds in bird nests or the dens of other animals/insects. If there are such nests or dens in the vicinity of your house, the chance of the white-marked spider beetle entering your home can be quite large.
Image
Rectangle

How to get rid of White-marked spider beetle?

White-marked spider beetles forage at night, therefore they are hard to notice at first. Once the white-marked spider beetles' activities are traced, the following measures should be taken:
  • Promptly get rid of unnecessary standing water in the kitchen and pantry where grains are kept.
  • Open windows often to ventilate and dehumidify with natural airflows.
  • Open the curtains to shed sunshine into the rooms to help dehumidify them.
  • Make use of dehumidifying tools including heating, dehumidifiers, and stoves.
Image
Use a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner can effectively suck up food debris on the floor and the insects and eggs, which are easy to miss.
Set up glue traps. Purchase traps from stores that can capture multiple storage pests.
Kill pests with high temperatures. Use a portable home steam vaporizer or iron to kill the white-marked spider beetles hidden on textiles and in furniture seams with hot steam.
Image
Harmful Effects of White-marked spider beetle
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Stored Produce Pest

White-marked spider beetle is capable of causing a spectrum of damage, from mild to severe, depending on the infestation size. The adults and larvae both feed on dry organic materials, impacting items like seeds and textiles. While the larvae can bore into these materials, their feces can cause additional contamination. This pest's activities can severely reduce the quality and value of goods, leading to economic losses and complicating conservation efforts for historical artifacts.

Rectangle
Textile Pest

The larval stages of white-marked spider beetle specifically target organic items such as wool, fur, feathers, and skins for sustenance, which may result in mild to severe damage. Their feeding habits create holes and degrade the quality of the items, leading to costly repairs or replacements. This causes inconvenience to individuals who may find their valuable clothing and home textiles destroyed.

Rectangle
Hurt Plant

White-marked spider beetle causes widespread damage throughout its life stages. Larvae and adults chew and bore into various plant organs, leading to tissue destruction. Infestation can range from mild to severe, with severe cases significantly weakening or killing plants.

More Effects of White-marked spider beetle

Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow