Beetles, Dermestids & Taxidermy

tpsuperstar

Hi there - not quite sure it's appropriate to post taxidermy related post in with the Live animals.. but here goes..

Is there anyone out there who is interested in taxidermy (european mounts) with just the skeletons of animals - not the feathers & fur / skin?

Where would someone go in Ireland if they wanted to acquire some dermestid beetles for the purpose of cleaning bones for mounting?
Are they legal? Do you need a permit? Where can you get them?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

J.R.

tpsuperstar wrote: »

Hi there - not quite sure it's appropriate to post taxidermy related post in with the Live animals.. but here goes..

Is there anyone out there who is interested in taxidermy (european mounts) with just the skeletons of animals - not the feathers & fur / skin?

Where would someone go in Ireland if they wanted to acquire some dermestid beetles for the purpose of cleaning bones for mounting?
Are they legal? Do you need a permit? Where can you get them?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

These are very popular in the USA for cleaning skulls & some sell starter kits which they will post.....doesn't say on their site though if they'll post to Ireland but you could send them an e-mail to find out.

http://www.skullmetallizing.com/kits.html

http://www.bonesandbugs.com./purchase-dermestid-beetles.html

tpsuperstar

J.R. wrote: »

These are very popular in the USA for cleaning skulls & some sell starter kits which they will post.....doesn't say on their site though if they'll post to Ireland but you could send them an e-mail to find out.

http://www.skullmetallizing.com/kits.html

http://www.bonesandbugs.com./purchase-dermestid-beetles.html

Thanks for this, I have emailed them anyway (but I thik I did a few months ago aswell) - I have already done hours & hours of searching, alot of the sellers in the USA won't ship internationally. I have already tried this route,

I am really looking for Beetle enthusiasts or entmologists or taxidermists or just hobbyists in Ireland or the UK who can supply me with a starter colony, or know where I can go locally... Fingers Crossed!

Mellor

Excuse my ignorance regarding skeletal mounts, but is boiling not an option.
What advantage do these beetles offer?
Curious because its an area i've wondered about

elgriff

"Most people boil skulls until the meat literally falls off. While cooking, the melted fat soaks into the bone. This results in greasy yellow skulls. Using beetles eliminates this problem."

J.R.

May not be suitable, as most people would prefer the original skull, but artifical skulls can be purchased to attach antlers to.


http://cgi.ebay.ie/TAXIDERMY-ACCESSORIES-ARTIFICIAL-ROE-DEER-SKULL_W0QQitemZ200096513015QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_AnimalCollectables_SM?hash=item2e96ae7bf7&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

J.R.

elgriff wrote: »

"Most people boil skulls until the meat literally falls off. While cooking, the melted fat soaks into the bone. This results in greasy yellow skulls. Using beetles eliminates this problem."

I can definitely see the advantages of using the beetles.

I've never used the beetles.....not readily available & anyway wouldn't be allowed by'the other half' due to young kids, small suburbian garden and the stench associated with using the beetles.

I boil the skulls.

My wife had a deep fat fryer that needed replacement. I took it, cleaned it out and use it to boil skulls in.........very fast & plug in.

I find that if you clean the brain & remove most of the meat & then boil it....just until the meat softens....remove as much as possible.....boil again .....continue like this until all meat removed.....you don't want to boil it until the meat is 'cooked' as skull may soften & come apart.

jwshooter

i would to a lot of european mounts each year this is the way ALL clients get there heads done.

cut the head off remove the lower jaw by cutting in a line from the nose under the eye with a carpenters hand saw ,dont use a saw with bone saw.
boil the head for a hour till the skin softish.
power wash the head off it takes 5 mins,be very careful not the damage the nose bone .tape it up with duct tape if you are not sure .
the head will be clean bright white with no smells.

4gun

I left a fine head on the mountain side for 7 months for th scavengers to clean,tie it down of put it on top of a heavy bush so foxes can't drag it away,

Grizzly 45

elgriff wrote: »

"Most people boil skulls until the meat literally falls off. While cooking, the melted fat soaks into the bone. This results in greasy yellow skulls. Using beetles eliminates this problem."

Once boiled properly,you must make sure All... every bit of meat,brain matter etc is off the skull.Then you can powerwash,or pack the entire skull in cotton wool and then saturate this with the strongest hydrogen peroxide you can get..Not the stuff in the chemists[,but the stuff hairdressers use cut to give us more blonde women than Sweden these days.:rolleyes::).IOW commerical use hydrogen peroxide]Soak for appx a week.You will have bone white skulls.

BTW is it customary to clear laquer the trophies antlers here??Saw it last year at Birr trophy displays ,thought it looked gross.It looks too shiney,as if the Stag was in a paint shop.