Dermestidae

Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera. They are also known as skin beetles, larder beetles, hide beetles, leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are 500 to 700 species of dermestids. They can be up to 112 mm in length. Adults have round oval-shaped bodies covered in scales or setae.Byrd, Jason. Castner, James 2001. Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations 

Most dermestids are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material.Kingsolver, John M. 2002. Dermestidae. In Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles. CRC Press, vol 2. This includes skin or pollen, animal hair, feathers, dead insects, and natural fibers. Dermestids can be found living in dead animals and feeding on them. Others can be found living in mammal, bird, bee, or wasp nests. Thaumaglossa only lives in the egg cases of mantids. Many Trogoderma species are pests that eat grain. 

The beetles found living in dead animals are studied in criminal investigations (forensic entomology). Many species are pests which can damage natural fibers in homes and businesses. Dermestids are sometimes used by natural history museums to clean animal skeletons.

 References 

 Books 
Pasquerault T. et al 2008. Répartition des espèces du genre Dermestes L. 1758 récoltés sur des cadavres humains (Coleoptera Dermestidae). L'entomologiste Tome 64 N°4 pp 221–224.
 Hinton H.E. 1945. A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products. 1, 387–395 British Museum (Natural History), London. Keys to world adults and larvae, genera and species; excellent figures, full species information.
 Freude H; Harde K.W. & Lohse G.A. 1979.  Dermestidae. Die Käfer Mitteleuropas 6: Diversicornia (Lycidae — Byrrhidae) 1206 text figs. 367pp. Goecke & Evers. Text in German; the Dermestidae are on pages 304–327.

 Other websites 

 Dermestidae of the World
 List of North American Species 
 Dermestidae-Literature
 Russian Atlas of Carpet Beetles-excellent images
 USDA Leaflet on Carpet beetles
on the University of Florida / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
 Anthrenus flavipes, furniture carpet beetle
 Anthrenus scrophulariae, common carpet beetle
 Dermestes atar, black larder beetle
 Dermestes maculatus, hide beetle
Carpet Beetles, Kansas State University

Category:Polyphaga