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 1–12 mm in length. Adults have round oval-shaped bodies covered in scales or setae.^[1]

Dermestid beetles Temporal range: Norian–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Bostrichiformia
Superfamily:	Bostrichoidea
Family:	Dermestidae Latreille, 1804
Subfamilies
Attageninae Dermestinae Megatominae Orphilinae Thorictinae Trinodinae

Dermestid beetles being used to clean a human skull at Skulls Unlimited International, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Most dermestids are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material.^[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.