Dermestid or Skin Beetles

Family Dermestidae

Larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

The larvae and adults of most species are scavengers and feed on plant and animal matter including leather, furs, skins, museum specimens, wool, silk and stored food materials. Some species are very destructive and economically important, and the damage is often caused by the larval stage. Some species are found on flowers and feed on pollen. The Dermestidae are oval or elongate-oval beetles. Most are dark coloured and some species are covered with scales or setae. The larvae are usually brownish and are covered with long hair.