Beetles Identification Guide

Economic importance: In Canada this species is a serious pest of fruit and vegetables
in the field. The damage is done primarily by the adults, which bore into
overripe fruit and kernels of corn initially injured by other insects. It has also
been found, though much less frequently, in factories, warehouses, and houses
associated with dried fruit and vegetables.
Nitidula bipunctata (Linnaeus)
Diagnosis: The species is readily distinguished from the other nitidulids dealt
with here by the coloration of the elytra, which is dull brown to piceous, with a
pair of pale spots at the middle, near the suture.
Sexual dimorphism: Sexes are externally similar.
Distribution: Widespread in the northern hemisphere. In Canada the species
has been reported from Quebec west to British Columbia and in the Northwest
Territories and the Yukon Territory.
Economic importance: Members of this species feed on carrion but have
been found occasionally in dwellings, in food such as ham, sausage, bacon,
bread, and cake.
Nitidula ziczac Say
Diagnosis: The species differs from the other nitidulids included here by the
coloration of the elytra, which is dull light to dark brown, typically with three
lighter longitudinal spots basally and one median sigmoid band. It also differs
from N. bipunctata by being narrower, by the clearly wider pronotal and elytral
fringes, and by the narrowly reflexed pronotal sides.
Sexual dimorphism: Sexes are externally similar.
Distribution: Exclusively North American (including Mexico). In Canada the species
occurs in the temperate regions, from Manitoba west to British Columbia.
Economic importance: As for the preceding species, N. ziczac feeds mainly on
carrion and has been reported only occasionally in dwellings.
Omosita colon (Linnaeus)
Diagnosis: This nitidulid is readily separated from the other species of the family
included here by the coloration of the elytra, which is dark with some pale spots
on the anterior half and pale with a few dark spots on the posterior half.
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