THE DEATHWATCH BEETLE, XESTOBIUM RUFOVILLOSUM, ACCOMODATED IN ALL THE BEST PLACES

Abstract:
Trapping and monitoring experiments were conducted in the roof spaces of four buildings infested with deathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum de Geer (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Data from sticky traps and an ultra-violet insectocutor showed that adult deathwatch beetles were trapped during the months of May, June and July. The beetles were attracted to natural light and UV light, and more beetles were caught on white coloured traps than yellow, blue or red coloured traps. During the monitoring periods, the proportion of deathwatch beetles out of all arthropods caught was between 30-40% among the four buildings. Weekly trap catch of all arthropods, including deathwatch beetle, was positively correlated with ambient temperature. Adult beetles flew in buildings at ambient temperatures greater than 17 °C. Habitat diversity in the buildings was assessed through the number of resident, over-wintering or non-resident arthropods caught. Spiders comprised 13% of arthropods caught, and evidence of deathwatch beetle predation by spiders was assessed. The predatory beetle, Korynetes caeruleus, was found in all four buildings; however, there was no evidence of other deathwatch beetle predators or parasitoids.