Identification of Attagenus gobicola J. Frivaldszky, 1892 – a potential storage pest in the European part of Russia

Abstract

This article is devoted to the diagnostics of Attagenus gobicola J. Frivaldszky, 1892, a species invasive to the European part of Russia. The article also presents data on the distribution of this species and elucidates the history of its invasion in Europe. It is emphasized that the risk of further invasion of A. gobicola is highly uncertain, and it is currently extremely difficult to predict whether this species will prove to be a dangerous storage pest or whether its impact will be insignificant. Further monitoring of this invasion is necessary, for which purpose a simplified diagnostic key has been compiled. This work is based on the collection of the Dermestidae family in the entomological collection of the All- Russian Plant Quarantine Center, which includes extensive and reliably identified collections by one of the leading specialists in carpet beetles, E. A. Sokolov. The article provides an adapted illustrated key, allowing for the differentiation of A. gobicola from other species of carpet beetles associated with stored products. The subfamily Attageninae of storage pests includes only the genus Attagenus Latreille, 1802. The key characteristics for diagnosing A. gobicola are: randomly located spines on the posterior surface of the fore tibiae; a long fore tibia (length 4–5 times longer than width); uniformly colored elytra without spots or bands, as well as the structure of the apical antennal segment of the male, which is 6–7 times longer than the previous two segments combined. The key is illustrated with original photographs. The resulting key will significantly facilitate the identification of A. gobicola and will be useful to plant protection and quarantine specialists.