Species group: ater
These are the dichotomous keys to identify species of Dermestes (Coleoptera; Dermestidae) on a worldwide scale.
Click on the species names to go to their taxon page. Click here to go back to the subgenus page. Click here to go back to the main page.
1a. Abdomen are covered in light hairs with regular patches of dark hairs towards the sides and sometimes each side of the midline each sternite; the scutellum is covered with dark hairs scattered with paler yellowish hairs in between.
→ Dermestes ater
1b. Abdomen are shiny and a dark shagreen colour; the scutellum is covered in coarse, golden-yellow hairs.
→ Dermestes palmi
Used images and literature:
Images key 1a (imago and abdomen) and 1b (abdomen):
- Herrmann A. no date: Pictures of some Dermestid Species. Link.
Image of key 1b (imago):
- lisätiedot N. no date: Ihrakuoriaiset – Dermestes. Link.
Information of key 1:
- (Key 1a and 1b) Zhantiev R. D. 1976: Жуки-кожееды (семейство Dermestidae) фауны СССР. [The skin eaters family Dermestidae of fauna of the USSR.] Moskva: Izdatelstvo Moskovskogo Universiteta, 180 p. Link.
- (Key 1b) Sjöberg O. 1950: Drei neue Kaefer aus der borealen Region Schwedens. Entomologisk Tidskrift 71: 159-164. Link.
Made by Sarah Mahie
Created on: 30-12-2025
Latest update: 31-12-2025