dermestid (beetle)

dermestid (beetle)
Any member of about 700 species (family Dermestidae) of widely distributed beetles that are household pests.

Usually brown or black, some are brightly coloured or patterned, and they vary in shape from elongated to oval. Dermestids range from 0.05 to 0.5 in. (1 to 12 mm) long and are covered with hairs or scales that easily flake off. The wormlike larvae feed on furs, skins, feathers, horn, and hair; some feed on cheese and dried meats or on carpets, rugs, furniture, and clothing. Two are museum pests that have destroyed collections of stuffed animals; museums and collectors must either have pestproof display shelves or continuously apply pesticides. The larvae of carrion-feeding species are sometimes used to clean the soft tissue attached to animal skeletons.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • dermestid beetle — ▪ insect       any of approximately 700 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) that at one time were important household pests because the larvae feed on furs, skins, feathers, horn, and hair. Adults are usually brown or black, although… …   Universalium

  • beetle — beetle1 /beet l/, n., v., beetled, beetling. n. 1. any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hard, horny forewings that cover and protect the membranous flight wings. 2. (loosely) any of various insects resembling the… …   Universalium

  • Beetle — Beetles redirects here. For the band, see The Beatles. For the car, see Volkswagen Beetle. This article is about the insect. For other uses, see Beetle (disambiguation). Beetle Temporal range: 318–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

  • dermestid — I. dərˈmestə̇d adjective Etymology: New Latin Dermestidae, from Dermestes, type genus + idae : of or relating to the Dermestidae II. noun ( s) : a beetle of the family Dermestidae …   Useful english dictionary

  • tapestry beetle — noun : carpet beetle b * * * tapestry beetle, a dermestid beetle whose larva eats tapestry, woolens, and the like …   Useful english dictionary

  • skin beetle — ▪ insect       any of approximately 300 widely distributed species of beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoida (insect order Coleoptera) that are also classified by some authorities in the subfamily Troginae in the scarab family Scarabaediae. Skin …   Universalium

  • khapra beetle — [kä′prə] n. [Hindi khaprā, lit., destroyer, akin to Sans kṣayati, (he) destroys < IE * gwhthei(e) , to swindle, destroy > Gr phthiein, to waste away] a dermestid beetle (Trogoderma granarium) native to S and SE Asia, now a destructive grain …   English World dictionary

  • larder beetle — n. a small, mostly black dermestid beetle (Dermestes lardarius) whose larvae feed on dead animal matter, cheese, etc …   English World dictionary

  • khapra beetle — ˈkä]prə, ˈka] noun Etymology: Hindi khaprā, literally, destroyer, from Sanskrit kṣapayati he destroys; akin to Sanskrit kṣiṇoti he destroys more at phthisis : a dermestid beetle (Trogoderma granarium) native to the Indian subcontinent and now… …   Useful english dictionary

  • khapra beetle — noun Etymology: Hindi & Urdu khaprā, literally, destroyer Date: 1928 a dermestid beetle (Trogoderma granarium) that is native to the Indian subcontinent and is now a serious pest of stored grain in most parts of the world …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”