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.

Synonyms

(any species of family Dermestidae): dermestid beetle, skin beetle

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