Where can I buy Dermestid Beetles?

ifeelabreeze

Hi folks.

I’m looking to start cleaning a few skulls, and so I’m interested in starting a Dermestid beetle colony.

I just haven’t a clue where to get them!

Any ideas?

Eddie B

Really hard find over here, and they can be very expensive. You would need a few thousand of them to clean a large skull.

Some places that sell live foods for pet amphibians etc, sell them in larvae form

If you already have skulls that need cleaning, then boil them, or soak in water, and then clean them. There is no real easy method. Even the beetles need to be looked after.

ifeelabreeze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120303765#Comment_120303765

Seem to be like hens teeth over here!

I’ve heard they’re not cheap but I’m hoping to grow it into a side business so even though they cost a fair bit I think it’d be worth getting into because it’d make it less labour intensive - assuming I can keep it running smoothly

Eddie B

There is one place in UK that sell the larvae very cheap, but say they are out of stock. Might be worth sending them an email, to see if they will be getting them back in. I will try find the name of company, and stick it up here for you.

Personally I 'd rather the boil and power wash method. Much faster option, and come out perfect.

Eddie B

Here is the link

https://www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk/products/DERMESTES/dermestes-larvae-fuzzies-tub-500

Seemingly, the larvae are found in amongst batches of live crickets, mealworms etc, in pet shops. Not sure if they are placed there for a purpose, (maybe to clean up dead insects) or if they come in the oatmeal that mealworms, etc, are kept in.

ifeelabreeze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310867#Comment_120310867

Seem to be like hens teeth. I was in touch with a few crowds in the US who said they'd ship, but none could guarantee they'd survive the journey.

For the boil & power wash method, I'm assuming I'd still have to skin them first wouldn't I?

So I'm just looking for something quick and fast that won't ruin the skulls.

Eddie B

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120313158#Comment_120313158

Even with the beetles, you'd have to skin, remove most the flesh, eye's, tongue etc. No real easy way.

ifeelabreeze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120313233#Comment_120313233

This is just after occurring to me, but what do you do with what's left over at the end of it all?

Eddie B

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120318718#Comment_120318718

Well I suppose you could either bin it or bury it. There wouldn't be a huge amount from each skull.

Grizzly 45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120318718#Comment_120318718

If you didn't put any chemicals in the water when you were boiling the skulls,it's basically a venison soup! Some german hunters feed it to their hunting dogs. If you are dogless, you can just pour the lot out on your garden flower beds,veggie patch compost heap etc. Nature's scavengers will take care of it for you. Even if there was some chemical in it,which it really doesn't need at this stage either,bar maybe a table spoons worth of washing soda it will disperse no problem.No garden, dispose as you would meat scraps food waste

clivej

I only did one skull. I put it in a tree in the garden for months and still had to soak in bucket of water to soften the skin up to get off.

Another method is to bury it in a compost heap and let the worms do the cleaning.

Eddie B

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325747#Comment_120325747

Im doing a skull now in the water method. Two or three weeks in water, them power wash clean. The smell is putrid.

Rather just boil, powerwash, whiten, and be done with it. Less fluting around, and no bad smells

Eddie B

Another example of the boil method

https://youtu.be/bdmxJbVP_IQ