Species group: gyllenhalii
These are the dichotomous keys to identify species of Dermestes (Coleoptera; Dermestidae) on a worldwide scale.
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1a. The pronotal disc tends to be black; hind femora with a distinct band of white hairs; black spots on the 1st abdominal sternite are uniform and covers a large area, except for a small white spot where the 1st and 2nd sternite meet; the white hairs on the last abdominal segment form two white longitudinal stripes that reach the posterior margin.
→ Dermestes gyllenhalii
1b. Elytra are less densely covered with hairs; hind femora with a spot of white hairs near the middle; black spots on the 1st abdominal sternite are often not uniform (as if a smaller spot is splitting from it), the white spot where the 1st and 2nd sternite meet is noticeably bigger; often two very small black spots on 2nd abominal sternite; the white hairs on the last abdominal sternite are two semicircular spots on the anterior margin that do not reach the posterior margin.
→ Dermestes szekessyi
Extra information:
A colour variation of Dermestes gyllenhalii with the name "helmi" has been found so far in Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Sweden. This colour variation characterizes itself by the pubescence on the pronotum and the elytra being uniformly and quite densely.
A colour variation of Dermestes szekessyi with the name "kazakh" has been found in Kazakhstan. This colour variation characterizes by the yellowish-grey elytral setation without yellow spots and intermixed yellow and white pronotal setation. The nominotypical specimens has a small yellowish spot on each elytron (note: this is not regular), and the pronotum is covered by yellow and brown setation.
Made by Sarah Mahie
Created on: 30-12-2025
Latest update: 18-01-2026