Dermestes Key Guide

These are the dichotomous keys to identify species of Dermestes (Coleoptera; Dermestidae) on a worldwide scale.
Click on the name of the subgenus to proceed with the key guide. Click on the species names to go to their taxon page.

Click here for the keyguide to identify larvae.

1a. Antennal club indistinct distinct and nearly symmetrical; prothorax with broad elevations laterally and anteriorly and pair of sublateral basal depressions; femora and tibiae expanded and flattened spines along outer edges of tibia reduced.

→ Dermestes (Derbyana) matthewsi


1b. Antenna with large 3-4 segmented club, somewhat asymmetrical; prothorax with complete lateral carinae, disc usually without sublateral carinae or depressions; femora slightly enlarged, tibiae slender with rows of dense short spines along outer edges. Go to question: 2

 

 

2a.Abdomen with concolorous pubescence, abdominal integument visible. Go to question: 3

2b. Abdomen with dark spots at the lateral sides of each sternite, the majority of the sternite's surface is often covered with light-coloured pubescence, concealing abdominal integument; terminal segment of maxillary palpus narrow.

→ Go to subgenus: Dermestinus

 

 

3a. Very robust and convex body shape; terminal segment of maxillary palpus very broad and clavate; mandibles with narrow acute tip; pronotum rather short, distinctly sinuate on each side anteriorly at the anterior angles, very slightly depressed at the base before the posterior ones.

→ Dermestes (Dermalius) maximus

 

3b. Less robust and convex body shape; terminal segment of maxillary palpus narrow; mandibles bluntly pointed.

→ Go to subgenus: Dermestes

Used images:

Image of key 1:
- Liu Z., Zhou YU-L., Szito A. & Ślipiński A. 2022: The Australian hide, larder and carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae): A revision at the generic level. Annales Zoologici 72(4): 837-926. Link.

Image of key 2a:
- (left) Klejdysz T. 2025: Dermestes bicolor. Link.
- (middle) Cox G. 2020: Dermestes ater. Link.
- (right) Javorski D. 2023: Dermestes haemorrhoidalis. Link.

Images of key 2b:
- (left) Ponomarev A. 2024: Dermestes laniarius. Link.
- (middle) The President and Fellows of Harvard College, no date: MCZ Entomology 6861, Dermestes rattus LeConte 1854. Link.
- (right) faluke 2022: Dermestes aurichalceus. Link.

Image of key 3:
- Herrmann A. no date: Pictures of some Dermestid Species. Link.

Used information:

Information about keys:
- (1) Liu Z., Zhou YU-L., Szito A. & Ślipiński A. 2022: The Australian hide, larder and carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae): A revision at the generic level. Annales Zoologici 72(4): 837-926. Link.
- (2 & 3) Háva J. 2004: World keys to the genera and subgenera of Dermestidae (Coleoptera), with descriptions, nomenclature and distributional records. Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae, Series B, Natural History 60: 149-164. Link.
- (3) Lepesme P. 1950: Révision des Dermestes (Coleoptera, Dermestidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 115: 37-68. Link.

Information about taxonomic ranks:
- Háva J. 2001: Description of a new subgenus of genus Dermestes Linnaeus from the Afrotropical region (Insecta: Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Reichenbachia 34: 147-153. Link.
- Háva J. 2025: World Catalogue of the Dermestidae (Coleoptera). Únětice/Praha: Private Entomological Laboratory and Collection, 368 p. Link.
- Zhou YU-L., Nicholls J. A., Liu Z-H., Hartley D., Szito A., Ślipiński A. & Zwick A. 2022: Molecular phylogeny of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) reveals the polyphyletic nature of Trogoderma Latreille and the taxonomic placement of the khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium Everts. Insect Systematics and Diversity 6(6): 1-24. Link.

Made by Sarah Mahie

Created on: 30-12-2025

Latest update: 05-02-2026