Buffalo Carpet Beetle vs Clay-Coloured Weevil

Anthrenus scrophulariae compared with Otiorhynchus singularis

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Buffalo Carpet Beetle	Clay-Coloured Weevil
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Dermestidae	Curculionidae
Genus	Anthrenus	Otiorhynchus
Species	Anthrenus scrophulariae	Otiorhynchus singularis

Evolutionary Relationship

Buffalo Carpet Beetle and Clay-Coloured Weevil share a common ancestor at the Order level: Coleoptera. (Beetles)

Conservation Status

Buffalo Carpet Beetle

LC — Least Concern

Clay-Coloured Weevil

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Buffalo Carpet Beetle	Clay-Coloured Weevil
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Buffalo Carpet Beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Clay-Coloured Weevil

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (32 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Buffalo Carpet Beetle

The Buffalo Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae) is a species in the genus Anthrenus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Clay-Coloured Weevil

The Clay-coloured Weevil, Otiorhynchus singularis, is a small flightless beetle in the family Curculionidae native to Europe and widely established as an introduced pest in many parts of North America and other temperate regions. The adult weevil is typically 5–7 mm in length, mottled gray-brown or clay-colored with patches of pale scales that provide camouflage against bark and soil. Like other Otiorhynchus weevils, the Clay-coloured Weevil is parthenogenetic in most introduced populations, consisting entirely of females that reproduce without mating. Adults are nocturnal, feeding on the foliage and bark of a wide range of host plants including strawberries, raspberries, currants, ornamental shrubs, and nursery stock. The larvae develop in soil, feeding on roots and causing significant damage that can girdle and kill established plants. The species is considered a serious horticultural pest in affected regions, causing economic losses in soft fruit production, nurseries, and ornamental plantings. Management typically involves biological control using entomopathogenic nematodes or fungi, as chemical control of soil-dwelling larvae is difficult. The species is well established across temperate Europe and has been accidentally introduced to parts of North America through the horticultural trade.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States