Dermestid
Description
A destructive group of beetles of the family Dermestidae that eat proteinaceous materials such as wool, glue animal glue, leather, parchment, and dried animal matter. The oval shaped adult insects range in size from 1.5 to 10 mm and live for two to four weeks. During this time, the female deposits eggs in several locations. After hatching, the larvae eat and destroy nearby food sources. Examples of dermestids are: larder beetle black larder beetle, carpet beetle black carpet beetle, carpet beetle furniture carpet beetle, beetle hide beetle, beetle larder beetle, beetle powderpost beetle, beetle cigarette beetle, carpet beetle varied carpet beetle, beetle cabinet beetle, carpet beetle common carpet beetle, beetle odd beetle, and warehouse beetle.
See also elytra beetle elytra.
Synonyms and Related Terms
beetles
Additional Images
Dermestid beetle
Authority
- Hermann Kuhn, Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, A Guide to Museum Pest Control, FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988