Hide Beetle
Dermestes maculatus
This record describes Dermestes maculatus (species). Recorded family: Dermestidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
see used in museums to clean skeletons
Identification notes
see
Wikipedia reference for Dermestes maculatus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermestes_maculatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Bostrichoidea
- Family
- Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles)
- Genus
- Dermestes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
in houses, on baled skins and in other products of animal origin; in warehouses and deep-pit poultry houses; outdoors, on carrion and animal skins
Geographic Range
native to the Old World (origin unknown; non-native in Europe), now cosmopolitan , adventive and widespread in NA (across Canada an every US state)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae and adults feed on dead insects and various materials of animal origin , incl. feathers, fur, bone, cheese, and dried fish (esp. freshwater fish)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dermestes maculatus DeGeer 1774
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Dermestes maculatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Hide Beetle (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Hide Beetle
What is Hide Beetle?
Hide Beetle (Dermestes maculatus) is a species in the family Dermestidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Hide Beetle?
5.5‒10 mm
How do you identify Hide Beetle?
see
Where is Hide Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in houses, on baled skins and in other products of animal origin; in warehouses and deep-pit poultry houses; outdoors, on carrion and animal skins |
| Range | native to the Old World (origin unknown; non-native in Europe), now cosmopolitan , adventive and widespread in NA (across Canada an every US state) |
What does Hide Beetle eat?
The diet of the Hide Beetle includes larvae and adults feed on dead insects and various materials of animal origin , incl. feathers, fur, bone, cheese, and dried fish (esp. freshwater fish).