Golden spider beetle explained

The golden spider beetle, Niptus hololeucus, is a species of spider beetle in the family Ptinidae.^[1]

Description

Niptus hololeucus is 3–4.5mm in length.^[2] Its body is covered in silky golden hairs and fine scales.

Habitat

Niptus hololeucus may be a pest of a wide variety of cereal based food products.In 1981 an account of an infestation of these beetles was located in a roof void above offices in Rotherham, U.K.^[3] This was found to be due to wild pigeons which were nesting within the loft: the beetles and their larvae were feeding upon their waste matter.

Distribution

It is a temperate species originating in West Asia but now cosmopolitan. It is widespread across western Europe.^[4] A single record was first recorded in Iran in a cave 2014.^[5] N. hololeucus is one of the two species of Niptus to be found in caves.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Niptus hololeucus (Faldermann, 1835) [Golden Spider Beetle] ]. NBN . 2012–2013 . 2017-01-25.
2. Web site: Golden spider beetle, Niptus hololeucus . PestWeb . 2017-01-25.
3. Stephen D Smith; “Boozers, Ballcocks and Bail” (Wombwell, 1996), pp.14-15
4. Web site: Niptus hololeucus (Falderman, 1836) . 2016-07-25 . 2017-01-25.
5. Dashan, M. . Sadeghi, S . Bakhshi, Y. . Malek-Hosseini, M.J . First record and redescription of Niptus hololeucus (Faldermann, 1835) from Kangohar Cave (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) . Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics . 2014 . 10 . 2 . 81–85 .