H. L. G. Stroyan. R. O. S. Clarke. E R Peacock. Both adults and larvae of dermesid beetles devour dry organic materials, chiefly those of animal origin. They are the major coleopterous pests of stored proteinaceous foods and foodstuffs, of skins and woollen goods and of dried animal specimens in museum collections.
Many species are cosmopolitan and synanthropic but there is also a native British dermistid fauna.
In addition to copiously illustrated keys to all subfamilies, genera and species of Dermestidae recorded as British, there is a separate key to adults of the species found out of doors in this country. One species of Derodotitidae has recently become established here and this family is included for the first time in a British identification guide. M. J. D. Brendell. 1975, 22pp. New edition . M. G. Morris.