Biology of common carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae Linn.) infesting stored cocoons in the Philippines
2016
Pera, B.V. | Gonzales, A.T.
Carpet beetle of the Dermestial family of beetles is persistent insect that caused severe damage in clothing, fabric, tapestries and many other fabric-based items as well as in stored silkworm cocoons. The larvae chew on this items as they grow into adult beetles. Stored cocoons are rendered unreelable due to numerous holes made by the larvae and causing economic damage, i.e., 3.42% reduction per kilogram in cocoon weight amounting to P17.28 (dried cocoon/kg) during a storage period of 15 to 60 days. The biology of the carpet beetle that causes a lot of damage to stored cocoons at the DMMMSU-SRD1 [Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University] Bacnotan, La Union was studied. Results show that the pests is a holometabolous insect which complete its development from 126 to 205 days. The adult male and female beetles were observed to be active from 7 to 14 and 9 to 17 days, respectively. The female lays 20 to 88 eggs with hatchability ranging from 68 to 100%. The eggs are usually laid in small batches on surfaces of cocoons. The eggs hatch after 15 days after which the larvae undergo five moults, taking 123.0-126.0 days to feed inside the cocoon. After the sixth moult (pupal to adult stage), the body appears reddish brown covered with numerous dark hairs and measures 5.20-9.21 mm long, while adults grow into oval shape varying from 1.0 to 3.50 mm in length.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by University of the Philippines at Los Baños