Unknown beetle - house pest?

[jimfoxy]

I'm wondering if Paul or someone else can help me identify this beetle. I've found a few of them in the house over the last few days (well, actually the wife has). I can't find what it is - should I be worried?

It is about 4mm long and black with gold/yellow/brown (depending on light) markings.



(It did have six legs!)

[bugbotherer]

Looks like the Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci). Yep it's a pest.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by jimfoxy

I'm wondering if Paul or someone else can help me identify this beetle. I've found a few of them in the house over the last few days (well, actually the wife has). I can't find what it is - should I be worried?
It is about 4mm long and black with gold/yellow/brown (depending on light) markings.

(It did have six legs!)

Yes, it's a beetle! It's not a carpet beetle. It looks very familiar but can't really make out a lot of detail ... doesn't look like one of the common problematic beetles so you and your spouse should (probably) not be worried! I'll look at it again tomorrow - have had a hard day and need a hot bath and early night.
Sleep tight!
PS: if you have any other pictures, you might want to mail me .... off group? I'd like to see the forebody and head fuller on/flatter, as it were .....

[bugbotherer]

What about Anobium punctatum or one of it's chums ?

[jimfoxy]

Originally Posted by bugbotherer

What about Anobium punctatum or one of it's chums ?

That would be bad, wouldn't it. Can't find a photo of that with the markings I have, though.

Sorry about the rubbish photos (my point and shoot wasn't made for the entomologist). Here are two more of it crawling around on Skinner:

[Paul mabbott]

Yes Anobium (woodworm) or Xestobium (death-watch beetle) could be problems. This could well be one of the Anobiidae (... or several other families). If Anobiidae then I think it most resembles Ochina ptinoides .... but I wouldn't like to say from these pics (yes, appreciate that you can only do what you can do! Amazing to get any picture at all, really ). Indeed, I might not even be able to say if I had the specimen - it's not one of my groups.
Would be best to check around for evidence of damaged wood - 'worm holes' &c - but it just might be a species which is attracted to light. Good luck.

Originally Posted by jimfoxy

That would be bad, wouldn't it. Can't find a photo of that with the markings I have, though.

Sorry about the rubbish photos (my point and shoot wasn't made for the entomologist). Here are two more of it crawling around on Skinner: