Hoover with your cursor over or click on certain countries to see the distribution of species around the world:
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Wanted species:
Dermestes sardous var. striatellus
This variety of the species is characterized by brown-ish stripes dorsal along it's elytra and was described for the first time by Reitter in 1908. Most beetles of this species lack these stripes. This variety has been found in Egypt. and in the United States, CA (near San Diego). The species Dermestes sardous ssp. sardous can be found in Spain, Portugal, France, Corsica, Sardinia, North Africa and in California.
You may also contact me for this species without the stripes! Perhaps some contain the genes for this variety.
Picture source: Jorge Ayón on iNaturalist.org
Dermestes coronatus
This species is first described by Steven in Schönherr in 1808. It has a white spot on the thorax in the shape of an, in my opinion, alien from Space Invaders. The elytra are speckled brown and black. This species is most commonly found in Kazachstan, Kirgistan and in the area around Lake Elton in Russia. It is said that it's distribution also covers Turkey, Afghanistan, Caucasus, North India, Iran, Mongolia and China.
Picture source (from left to right): Vladimir Kazenas on ukrbin.com, Ivan Dianov on iNaturalist.org and mansurich on iNaturalist.org
Unusual dermestid beetles:
Dermestes erichsoni
Subgenus Dermestinus.
Altough it is a relatively rare species to encounter, it's distribution is pretty broad. It is found in countries north of the Mediterranean Sea, from France to Turkey and as northern as Poland.
The dorsal side of this species is not outstanding. It looks similar to a dull or a worn D. undulatus. Most species of this subgenus have white-colored bellies. The belly of this species on the other hand, has an unusual pastel orange hue. Another exception is D. murinus, whom has a belly with a pastel pink hue.
Picture source: Karsten Mody on iNaturalist.org
Dermestes matthewsi
Subgenus Derbyana.
This species was given it's own genus in the past due to it's distinctive appearance. The species is native to northern Western Australia.
After a study to the molecular phylogeny of the Dermestidae family, it was revealed that the toxonomic placement of this species, formally known as "Derbyana matthewsi", was nested in the Dermestes genus. The species is closer related to D. ater than D. lardarius is to D. ater. After this revelation, the status of Derbyana was changed to subgenus rank.
Picture source: Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
(With written concent of publisher to share this image)
Dermestes hirticollis
Subgenus Montandonia.
This head and thorax of this species have an intens reddish brown color. The elytra are black. It is found in Mediterranean countries, such as Portugal and, in particular, Spain.
Altough not much is known yet, this species most likely behaves similar to the closely related D. depressus, an obligatory symbiont of bumblebees: the larvae firstly feed on a mixture of nectar (honey) and pollen, then they bore into cocoons and feed on dead larvae and pupae of bumblebees.
Picture source: Pietro Niulo on Flickr.com
Dermestid beetles with a common name:
Dermestes marmoratus
Also known as the common carrion beetle.
Subgenus Dermestinus.
The species is speckled brown in color, but has a distinctive white pattern on it's elytra. It is found in North America and most frequently in the western half of the USA.
Picture source: Jack Cochranon iNaturalist.org
Dermestes peruvianus
Also known as the Peruvian larder beetle.
Subgenus Dermestes.
This species is very similar to D. haemorrhoidalis in appearance, but the elytra are without a dense fringe of
setae that extend beyond the edge. It is most frequently found in the Americas and Europe.
Picture source: Andreas Herrmann on Dermestidae.com
Dermestes caninus
Also known as the dog carpet beetle.
Subgenus Dermestinus.
The head and thorax are an speckled orange-brown and the elytra speckled light brown and black. It is found in North America and Middle America and most frequently in Texas.
Picture source: Mark Quinn on iNaturalist.org
Dermestes vorax
Also known as "홍띠수시렁이", best translated to "Red-banded moisture bug". They look very similar to Dermestes lardarius, whom are occasionally also referred to as moisture bugs, but Dermestes vorax has a red band across it's elytra instead of orange. Their common name is in Korean, since they are most commonly found in Korea. Since Dermestes species are more commonly referred to as larder beetles, the name "Red-banded larder beetle" would also be a fitting English common name. The species also occurs in China and is introduced in other countries, such as Japan.
Picture Source: Nan Yang on iNaturalist.org
There are still some species of dermestid beetle that I really would like to obtain! I might travel in the future to try to collect them myself, but perhaps a fellow insect collector, beetle breeder or entomologist whom has the ability to search for them is reading this.
Did you happen to come across a mentioned species and are you willing to ship a few live individuals to the Netherlands? Then I would be more than happy to buy them!
You can send me a message through my Contact page.
All information above is in addition to the information about the Dermestes species D. ater, D. frischii, D. haemorrhoidalis, D. lardarius, D. maculatus, D. murinus and D. undulatus whom are listed on the Species information page.