Abstract
To understand the role of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, as a hygiene insect, the adhesion rate and adhesion patterns of fungi spores on the body surface of beetles collected from indoors and outdoors were investigated. Fungi spores were isolated from 701 individuals of 988 from a total of 3,684 that were captured, and the adhesion rate of the fungi spores was 71.0%. The adhesion of fungi spores was observed on the pronotum, forewing, labrum, mandible, scutellum, abdomen, femur and tibia using a scanning electron microscope. In addition, Aspergillus sp. spores were identified and an Aspergillus sp. spore was observed on the body surface adhering to the middle of a body hair by secretion of emplastic substance. Lasioderma serricorne most likely plays a role as a carrier of fungal spores.
