Deathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, in historical buildings: monitoring the pest and its predators

Trapping and monitoring experiments were conducted in the roof spaces of fo ur buildings infested with deathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum de Gee r (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Data from sticky traps and an ultra-violet insec tocutor showed that adult deathwatch beetles were trapped from May to July. The beetles were attracted to natural and UV light, and more beetles were caught on white coloured traps than yellow, blue or red traps. Deathwatch b eetles comprised 30-40% of all arthropods caught. The weekly trap catch of all arthropods, including deathwatch beetle, was positively correlated with ambient temperature. Adult beetles flew in buildings at ambient temperatur es greater than 17 degrees C. Arthropods caught in the buildings were categ orised as resident, over-wintering or non-resident arthropods. Predatory sp iders comprised 13% of arthropods caught and the predatory beetle, Korynete s caeruleus de Geer, was found in all four buildings. There was no evidence of other predators or parasitoids of the deathwatch beetle.