''Alphitobius diaperinus'' is a species of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

in the family Tenebrionidae, the

darkling beetle Darkling beetle is the common name for members of the beetle family Tenebrionidae. The number of species in the Tenebrionidae is estimated at more than 20,000 and the family is cosmopolitan in distribution. Taxonomy ''Tenebrio'' is the Latin ge ...

s. It is known commonly as the lesser mealworm and the litter beetle. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring nearly worldwide. It is known widely as a

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

insect of stored

food grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legume ...

products such as

flour Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many c ...

, and of poultry-rearing facilities. It is a

vector Vector most often refers to: *Euclidean vector, a quantity with a magnitude and a direction *Vector (epidemiology), an agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism Vector may also refer to: Mathematic ...

of many kinds of animal pathogens.

Description

The adult lesser mealworm beetle is roughly 6 mm long and widely oval in shape. It is shiny black or brown with reddish brown elytra, the color variable among individuals and changing with age. Much of the body surface is dotted with puncture-like impressions. The antennae are paler at the tips and are covered in tiny, yellowish hairs. The elytra have shallow longitudinal grooves.Dunford, J. C. and P. E. Kaufman
Lesser mealworm, ''Alphitobius diaperinus''.
Entomology and Nematology. University of Florida, IFAS. 2006. The eggs are narrow, whitish or tan, and about 1.5 mm long. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e somewhat resemble other mealworms, such as the common mealworm (''Tenebrio molitor''), but are smaller, measuring up to 11 mm long at the final subadult stage. They are tapering and segmented, with three pairs of legs toward the front end, and whitish when newly emerged from the egg and darken to a yellow-brown. They become pale when preparing to molt between

instar An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow o ...

stages six to 11 instars occur.

Distribution

This species has long been known throughout the world as a common pest, so its origins are uncertain, but it may have originated in Sub-Saharan Africa. It moved into

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...

long ago, and was likely introduced to North America from there. Alphitobius poultry cages

Biology

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

species, the lesser mealworm thrives in warm,

humid Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present. Humidity dep ...

environments, both natural and established by humans. It inhabits

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

s, rodent

nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materi ...

s, and the nests of birds, including

kites A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have a bridle and tail to guide the face ...

, pigeons, hamerkop,

house sparrow The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, an ...

, and

purple martin The purple martin (''Progne subis'') is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent ...

.Crook, P. G., et al. (1980)
The lesser mealworm, ''Alphitobius diaperinus'', in the scrotum of ''Rattus norvegicus'', with notes on other vertebrate associations (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae; Rodentia, Muridae).
''The Coleopterists Bulletin'' 393-96. It easily colonizes agricultural establishments with abundant food sources and warm conditions, such as grain processing and storage facilities and poultry housing. The beetle consumes a wide variety of materials, including

litter Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. Litter can also be used as a verb; to litter means to drop and leave objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups ...

, bird droppings and bat guano,

mold A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites. The spores are the dispersal units of the fungi. Not ...

, feathers, eggs, and

carrion Carrion () is the decaying flesh of dead animals, including human flesh. Overview Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters (or scavengers) include crows, vultures ...

. It feeds on the eggs and larvae of other insects, such as the rice moth (''Corcyra cephalonica'').Dass, R., et al. (1984)
Feeding potential and biology of lesser meal worm, ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Panz.) (Col., Tenebrionidae), preying on ''Corcyra cephalonica'' St. (Lep., Pyralidae).
''Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie'' 98(1‐5), 444-47. It also engages in

cannibalism Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, b ...

. It commonly feeds on sick or weakened live animals. When it lives in bird housing it may infest and consume dying birds, especially chicks. It was also once observed inhabiting the

scrotum The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum co ...

of a

rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' ( pack rats), ''Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...

. The adult female beetle lays usually about 200 to 400 eggs, but it has been known to produce up to 2000. It lays eggs every few days throughout its life, which is generally up to one year long, or up to two years when it is reared in captivity. It deposits the eggs in litter, droppings, grain stores, or cracks in structures. The larvae emerge within a week and take 40 to 100 days to reach maturity, depending on conditions and the food supply. The larvae grow well in high humidity. They

pupa A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...

te alone in secure spots. They are quite active and mobile and burrow quickly when threatened. Larvae and adults are mainly

nocturnal Nocturnality is an ethology, animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have ...

, becoming most active at

dusk Dusk occurs at the darkest stage of twilight, or at the very end of astronomical twilight after sunset and just before nightfall.''The Random House College Dictionary'', "dusk". At predusk, during early to intermediate stages of twilight, enou ...

As a pest

Impacts

As a pest, the beetle is most damaging to the

poultry Poultry () are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae (fowl), especially the order Galliformes (which includes chickens, quail ...

industry. This is the most common beetle found in poultry litter.Dinev, I. (2013)
The darkling beetle (''Alphitobius diaperinus'') - A health hazard for broiler chicken production.
''Trakia Journal of Sciences'' 11(1), 1-4. The larvae damage poultry housing structures when they search for suitable pupation spots, chewing through wood,

fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cl ...

, and

polystyrene Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic polymer made from monomers of the aromatic hydrocarbon styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is ...

insulation. This destruction can be costly to growers, especially in heating energy costs. The beetles consume the birds' feed and irritate the birds by biting them.Kozaki, T., et al. (2008)
Comparison of two acetylcholinesterase gene cDNAs of the lesser mealworm, ''Alphitobius diaperinus'', in insecticide susceptible and resistant strains.
''Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology'' 67(3), 130-38. Other insect residents of poultry housing include the

housefly The housefly (''Musca domestica'') is a fly of the suborder Cyclorrhapha. It is believed to have evolved in the Cenozoic Era, possibly in the Middle East, and has spread all over the world as a commensal of humans. It is the most common f ...

(''Musca domestica'') and its predator, ''Carcinops pumilio'', a

clown beetle Histeridae is a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or Hister beetles. This very diverse group of beetles contains 3,900 species found worldwide. They can be easily identified by their shortened elytra that leaves two of the seven ...

. The fly is a pest which can sometimes be kept under control by the beetle. The lesser mealworm interferes with this ecology by reducing the survival of clown beetle eggs and larvae. The lesser mealworm beetle is a vector of many pathogens. It spreads more than 30 bird diseases.Arunraj, C., et al. (2013)
Lesser mealworm, ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Panzer, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) menace in poultry farms in south India.
''Journal of Biopesticides'' 6(1), 84-86. It transmits animal viruses such as

rotavirus ''Rotavirus'' is a genus of double-stranded RNA viruses in the family ''Reoviridae''. Rotaviruses are the most common cause of diarrhoeal disease among infants and young children. Nearly every child in the world is infected with a rotaviru ...

,Despins, J. L., et al. (1994)
Transmission of enteric pathogens of turkeys by darkling beetle larva (''Alphitobius diaperinus'').
''The Journal of Applied Poultry Research'' 3(1) 61-65. the

turkey coronavirus ''Avian coronavirus'' is a species of virus from the genus ''Gammacoronavirus'' that infects birds; since 2018, all gammacoronaviruses which infect birds have been classified as this single species. The strain of avian coronavirus previously kno ...

, the

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domestication, domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey junglefowl, grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster ...

viruses that cause

Marek's disease Marek's disease is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease in chickens. It is named after József Marek, a Hungarian veterinarian who described it in 1907. Marek's disease is caused by an alphaherpesvirus known as "Marek's disease virus" ( ...

and infectious bursal disease, and the viruses that cause Newcastle disease,

avian influenza Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu or bird flu, is a variety of influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.

, and fowlpox.Watson, D. W., et al. (2000)
Limited transmission of turkey coronavirus in young turkeys by adult ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).
''Journal of Medical Entomology'' 37(3), 480-83. It transmits

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were am ...

such as ''

Campylobacter jejuni ''Campylobacter jejuni'' () is a species of pathogenic bacteria, one of the most common causes of food poisoning in Europe and in the US. The vast majority of cases occur as isolated events, not as part of recognized outbreaks. Active surveilla ...

'',Steelman, C. D. (2008)
Comparative susceptibility of adult and larval lesser mealworms, ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), collected from broiler houses in Arkansas to selected insecticides.
''Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology'' 25(2), 111-25. ''Salmonella'' typhimurium serovar, ''

Escherichia coli ''Escherichia coli'' (),Wells, J. C. (2000) Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Harlow ngland Pearson Education Ltd. also known as ''E. coli'' (), is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, coliform bacterium of the genus '' Esc ...

'', and ''

Staphylococcus ''Staphylococcus'' is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria in the family Staphylococcaceae from the order Bacillales. Under the microscope, they appear spherical ( cocci), and form in grape-like clusters. ''Staphylococcus'' species are facultat ...

'' species. A single exposure of a chick to a contaminated beetle can result in bacterial colonization of the bird's gut.Hazeleger, W. C., et al. (2008)
Darkling beetles (''Alphitobius diaperinus'') and their larvae as potential vectors for the transfer of ''Campylobacter jejuni'' and ''Salmonella enterica'' serovar Paratyphi B variant Java between successive broiler flocks.
''Applied and Environmental Microbiology'' 74(22), 6887-91. Chicks are more likely to be infected by eating larvae than adult beetles.Leffer, A. M., et al. (2010)
Vectorial competence of larvae and adults of ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' in the transmission of ''Salmonella'' Enteritidis in poultry.
''Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases'' 10(5), 481-87. The beetle can also transmit ''

Aspergillus ' () is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. ''Aspergillus'' was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli. Viewing the fungi under a microscope, Mic ...

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

. It is a vector for '' Eimeria'',

protozoa Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris. Histor ...

that cause coccidiosis in birds. It carries fowl

tapeworms Cestoda is a class of parasitic worms in the flatworm phylum (Platyhelminthes). Most of the species—and the best-known—are those in the subclass Eucestoda; they are ribbon-like worms as adults, known as tapeworms. Their bodies consist of ...

such as '' Choanotaenia infundibulum'' and the nematodes '' Subulura brumpti'' and '' Hadjelia truncata''.Alborzi, A. R. and A. Rahbar. (2012)
Introducing ''Alphitobius diaperinus'', (Insecta: Tenebrionidae) as a new intermediate host of ''Hadjelia truncata'' (Nematoda).
''Iranian J Parasitol'' 7(2), 92-98. Poultry have difficulty digesting the beetle and larva, and if they eat them, they can experience intestinal obstruction and gut lesions.

Broiler chickens A broiler is any chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') that is bred and raised specifically for meat production. Most commercial broilers reach slaughter weight between four and six weeks of age, although slower growing breeds reach slaughte ...

and turkey poults have slower weight gain when they feed on the beetle. Like other darkling beetles, this species produces defensive benzoquinone compounds that can be irritating to humans, causing

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, c ...

headaches Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. There is an increased risk of depression in those with severe headaches. Headaches can occur as a resul ...

rhinitis Rhinitis, also known as coryza, is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip. The inflammation is caused by viruses, bacteria, irritant ...

conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. It makes the eye appear pink or reddish. Pain, burning, scratchiness, or itchiness may occur. The ...

, corneal ulcers, and

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can ...

with

erythema Erythema (from the Greek , meaning red) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not asso ...

and

papule A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the skin. It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip. It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty. It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth. Some ha ...

s. The benzoquinones may be

carcinogen A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer). This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive subst ...

ic. Before the beetle became problematic in poultry, it was better known as a pest of stored goods, including

wheat Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat (''T. aestivum''). The archaeolog ...

barley Barley (''Hordeum vulgare''), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains, particularly in Eurasia as early as 10,000 years ago. Globally 70% of barley ...

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly '' Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and ''Porteresia'', both wild and domestica ...

oatmeal Oatmeal is a preparation of oats that have been de-husked, steamed, and flattened, or a coarse flour of hulled oat grains ( groats) that have either been milled (ground) or steel-cut. Ground oats are also called white oats. Steel-cut oats ...

soybean The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses. Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu ...

cowpea The cowpea (''Vigna unguiculata'') is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus '' Vigna''. Its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall have made it an important crop in the semiarid regions across Africa and Asia. It requires very few i ...

peanut The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible Seed, seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, important to both small ...

linseed Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...

, cottonseed,

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ch ...

, and

dried meat Dried meat is a feature of many cuisines around the world. Examples include: *Kulen Slanina Pečenica *Aliya, sun-dried meat from Kenya * Bakkwa or rougan, Chinese salty-sweet dried meat sheets. * Biltong, a cured meat that originated in Sout ...

.Tomberlin, J. K., et al. (2008)
Susceptibility of ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from broiler facilities in Texas to four insecticides.
''Journal of Economic Entomology'' 101(2), 480-83. This beetle can become a household pest if it ends up near human habitation in old litter to be used as compost. It emerges when it is attracted to light from homes.

Management

No agents of

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

are used against the lesser mealworm. The fungus '' Beauveria bassiana'' is an arthropod pathogen that may prove useful. Some protozoa and

spider Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species d ...

species are known natural predators. Control is usually attempted with carbaryl insecticide in the form of powder, liquid, and bait. Thiamethoxam and 9-Tricosene used in conjunction have been shown to be successful in poultry houses.

Pyrethroid A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural pyrethrins, which are produced by the flowers of pyrethrums (''Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium'' and '' C. coccineum''). Pyrethroids are used as commercial and household insecticides. In ...

s and

boric acid Boric acid, more specifically orthoboric acid, is a compound of boron, oxygen, and hydrogen with formula . It may also be called hydrogen borate or boracic acid. It is usually encountered as colorless crystals or a white powder, that dissolve ...

are used. True outbreaks are often uncontrollable and some populations of the beetle have shown resistance to various compounds. Resistance is more common on farms that have been chemically treated for many years. Insecticides are not ideal because they contaminate the poultry and they are not effective on the pest when it burrows out of reach.Rezende, S. R. F., et al. (2009)
Control of the ''Alphitobius diaperinus'' (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) with entomopathogenic fungi.
''Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola'' 11(2), 121-27. Proper maintenance of poultry housing usually keeps the beetle under control, as it propagates in accumulated litter and droppings.

Use

As feed

The larvae of the litter beetle, like certain other larvae of darkling beetles such as mealworms, are used as animal feed, e.g., fed to captive reptiles. They have been reported as a good first food for Central American wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima mannii'') hatchlings, because they are more active than common mealworms and their movement stimulates feeding behavior.Webb, M. R
Care & Breeding of the Central American Wood Turtle, ''Rhinoclemmys pulcherimma manni''.
Tortoise Trust. 2010.

As food

The larvae are edible insects and also farmed for human consumption by specialized European insect farms, mostly in the Netherlands and Belgium. The larvae are either sold freeze-dried for consumption, or processed into food such as burger patties, pasta, or snack bars. As food, the larvae are commonly marketed under the term ''buffalo worms'', a name that is also used for the larvae of Alphitobius laevigatus which can lead to confusion.Aline Marien, Hamza Sedefoglu, Frédéric Debode et al. (9 March 2022): ''Detection of Alphitobius diaperinus by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction With a Single-Copy Gene Target''. In: Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2022; 9: 718806. doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.718806. The species can be detected using the PCR method. More rarely, the name ''lesser mealworm'' is used. On 4 July 2022, EFSA published an opinion confirming the safety of frozen and freeze-dried larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus for human consumption.EFSA (4 Juy 2022):
Safety of frozen and freeze‐dried formulations of the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus larva) as a Novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
'. In: EFSA Journal 2022;20(7):7325. doi: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7325 Approval as a food is pending.

In preparation

Along with '' Dermestes'' beetles, species of this genus are used in

museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and th ...

s to clean tissues off carcasses during the preparation of zoological specimens.

Description

Distribution

Biology

As a pest

Impacts

Management

Use

As feed

As food

In preparation

References

Further reading