Dermestes lardarius

Common skin beetles ( Dermestes lardarius )

The common skin beetles ( Dermestes lardarius ) is a beetle of the family of skin beetles ( Dermestidae ).

Features

Common skin beetles are 7 to 9.5 mm long and have an elongated, oval completely scaly body. Head, pronotum and the posterior half of the elytra are black, colored with irregular small bright spots, the anterior half of the elytra is dirty white to beige colored. In these bright area to sit centrally on each wing half to three dark reddish points at which the mean is offset slightly to the rear. Along the edge of the throat plate you can see a range of the same color on both elytra furthermore that ends just before the tag ( scutellum ). The short probes are colored red and thicken at the end of a mace.

The larvae are about twice as long as the imagines and have a lean body. They carry numerous long bristles.

Occurrence

Common skin beetles are spreading all over the world and are among the culture followers. They are found from the lowlands up to high layers which are still inhabited human. They inhabit almost exclusively human settlements, especially where buildings such as warehouses. In nature they are found in birds' nests, hives and detritus from deciduous trees.

Way of life

The beetles and larvae feed on various organic substances, such as Wool, textiles, inventories, animal remains, etc. They make inside the home primarily felt by the resulting damage, as they impact unnoticed. The larvae are primarily responsible for the damages. In zoological collections they can also cause damage. However, they are also well suited for the preparation of animal skeletons.

The larvae molt five times before they usually pupate in the wood. Overwintering takes place as a larva.

Larva of the commons bacon beetle