dermestid
English
Dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)
Noun
dermestid (plural dermestids)
- (zoology) Any beetle of the family Dermestidae, most of which are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material.
- 1968, Milton Hildebrand, Anatomical Preparations, page 23:
- Stray dermestids are a great hazard in a biology department.
- 1983, Richard E. White, Beetles, Peterson Field Guides, page 194,
- Some small dermestids are found in bee or wasp nests, where they feed on old pollen stores or on dried remains of bees or wasps.
- 2010, George Hangay, Paul Zborowski, A Guide to the Beetles of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, page 133,
- In nature, dermestids can be found on old, dry carcasses, in bird and mammal nests, while the adults of some species visit flowers, where they feed on pollen and nectar.
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Synonyms
- (any species of family Dermestidae): dermestid beetle, skin beetle