Dermistid Beetles are actually fascinating. They are used all over the world by museum curators to help them clean skeletons from leftover flesh and organic matter. Dermistid Beetles are common in most areas and are one of the first species to show up in carrion. Forensic scientists use the Dermistid Beetle as well when investigating crime scenes involving bodies left outside.

Dermestid Beetles resemble a smaller hairy centipede, except they do not have as many legs. They are brownish black in color with wide yellow stripes on their body and hairy legs.

The Dermestid Beetle does not generally grow over one-half inch.

During the colder months, the Dermestid Beetle hibernates in cracks and crevices, emerging when the weather warms up. The females emerge first to lay her eggs. Her eggs will hatch in twelve days and the larvae will enter the first of six distinct life stages. These beetles can fly, but inside homes at room temperature they are rendered incapable of flight. Dermestid Beetles harvested for museum work are kept in cases maintained at room temperature.

Within this family are several different types of Dermestid Beetles: the larder beetle, the carpet beetle, the varied carpet beetle, all capable of destruction on either organic matter, synthethic fibers, animal hair and other material. They are considered pests because of the amount of damage they can do to stored materials and food stuff. We will discuss Carpet Beetles in another section of this website.

Pest Control Tips for Dealing with Dermestid Beetles:

Remove all the sources that would be attracting these beetles to your home, or other building; dead rodents, dead birds, old bees nests, any type of food stuff not properly contained.

These beetles are important to the earth for they recycle back to earth nutrients by putting them back into the soil. If you have an infestation of Dermestid Beetles, chances are good that you have a dead animal somewhere on the premises. Not always easy to find, but once the flesh is stripped, and the food source is gone, the beetles will leave as well.