Tiny, Shiny, Reddish-Brown Beetles - Spider Beetles
spider beetle These tiny beetles are fairly uncommon but because they resemble mites or even bed bugs they get a lot of reaction from homeowners when they are found. Spider beetles are small (1.5 - 4mm), shiny, hump-backed, reddish-brown beetles that are considered to be minor stored product pests (they infest stored foods and natural fa brics) . They are usually not a major problem in homes but can damage museum collections of animals and dried insects. These beetles are especially common in older apartment buildings . On first sight people sometimes mistakenly identify spider beetles as mites or bed bugs. They are of course completely unrelated to either of these critters. The majority of questions I get about spider beetles come from New York City (for some strange reason) but these beetles occur in other regions o f the country as well. There are at least three species that can be found in homes. Since spider beetles are general scavengers they can infest a wide vari...
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