Skin Beetle
Dermestes sp

Both the shiny oval beetle and its hairy elongate larva feed on animal carcasses, and in nature are important decomposers. They can also be destructive pests of stored products such as fur and leather. Many museums keep live skin beetle colonies to help safely clean delicate skeletons.

Fact File

Ecological Role: Decomposer

Habitat: Diverse

Adult Lifespan: 6 mos

Diet: Dead animal tissue