These critters are in the family Dermestidae of the order
Coleoptera. Dermestid, or skin beetles, are scavengers feeding
on a wide variety of organic matter. They are beneficial as
scavengers but they are serious pests of textiles, stored foods,
and museum specimens, including insect collections. The larvae
are most injurious, but the adults are flower feeders and seldom
cause damage. It is wise to take precautions to prevent escape.
Any sealable container may be used for culturing Dermestids
and any protein may be used as a food source. Personally, I use a
10-gallon aquarium which does very well for most specimens. Dried
meat, cereals, insects or fish food are suitable as food to keep
the critters alive if they are not working on a specimen.
Atmospheric humidity generally supplies enough moisture but I
usually add a rolled up piece of paper towel which I keep damp.
Culture containers may be cleaned by passing the debris through a
sieve that will retain the larvae.
Two to three generations of beetles may be obtained in a
year. New cultures may be started by taking a portion of an
existing culture and transferring it to another culture container
with fresh media, or retaining newly emerged adults and
transferring them to a fresh container for mating and egg
production.
I have found Dermestids to be most excellent in skeletal
preparation. A carcass (either dried or fresh) can be placed in
a suitable container with a dermestid culture. The dermestid
larvae will clean off all remaining flesh from the bones which
can then be rinsed, degreased, bleached, and assembled. They
will also strip the cartilage but that is the last thing they
will eat.
In the preparation of most skulls, I have found it best to
strip off as much of the hide and the flesh as possible,
including digging out eyeballs and the brain. This will
eliminate most of the smell of decomposition while the beetles do
their work. The one exception would be that of bird skulls. I
have found that a good culture of beetles will strip a bird skull
clean, feathers and all, in just one day, before the smell of
decomposition becomes a problem.
I have found these beetles to be living in the Idaho desert
in southern Idaho. By leaving a fresh carcass in the desert, one
may obtain a goodly supply if one can keep other predators from
eating the carcass. An easier way might be to purchase a culture
of these beetles from a Biological Supply House. The cost is relatively
cheap and you will get adults, larvae and eggs. I have had my
dermestid culture for about 10 years now without having to
replenish it from outside sources. If they have food and a
little moisture, they are happy critters and easy to maintain.