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The First Record of the Alien Species Asian Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus coloratus Reitter, 1881) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) from Russia—A Serious Pest of Museum Collections

Abstract

Asian carpet beetle Anthrenus coloratus Reitter, 1881 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is reported in Russia for the first time. This species, being a harmful pest of museum zoological, artisan, historical, and other collections, is of significant practical importance. As a rule, exhibits and stock objects that have animal origin (dry skins and carcasses, stuffed animals, entomological collections, etc.) or include natural materials of animal origin (wool and fur products) are exposed to damage. A. coloratus is widespread in Eurasia, Africa, and North America. There is information about the presence of the species in South America. The distribution, biological features, harmfulness, and possible invasion of this alien species are discussed in the paper.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am deeply grateful to R.D. Zhantiev (Moscow State University) for confirming the identification of A. coloratus, as well as M.Ya. Orlova-Benkovskaya (Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences) for a number of valuable consultations and comments related to this study. In addition, I am grateful to the editor and anonymous reviewers, whose comments and criticism contributed to the improvement of this publication. This study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation (grant no. 16-14-10 031).

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Correspondence to Ya. N. Kovalenko.

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Translated by M. Shulskaya

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Kovalenko, Y.N. The First Record of the Alien Species Asian Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus coloratus Reitter, 1881) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) from Russia—A Serious Pest of Museum Collections. Russ J Biol Invasions 9, 352–354 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2075111718040070

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