Author Topic: Meat eating beetles  (Read 1994 times)

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Offline THEPLUMBER

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Meat eating beetles
« on: December 12, 2011, 02:24:45 PM »
Does anyone know anything about these meat eating beetles? I knew a guy that used these to prepare euro-mounts. Just drop the skull in the aquarium, and let them go to work.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2011, 02:36:11 PM »
Seen em on Dirty Jobs once!  ;D

Tim

http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2011, 05:29:36 AM »
They are called Dermistid Beetles...
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermestidae
“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
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“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline dukkillr

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2011, 05:51:38 AM »
I had a big hog skull done that way once.  They do a nice job but it takes a while.  I sent it off somewhere in the west as I recall.  Maybe Oregon? 
 
I've since started doing my own with the "cold water" method. 

Offline quickdtoo

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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2011, 08:05:05 AM »
I used them when I was in college to clean up specimens and prepare skeletal mounts for the biology department. They do a very good job and no matter how small the bone is they will NOT damage it.
“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline bucks pro mount taxidermy

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2011, 03:01:09 AM »
Yes they are dermistid beetles.  BUt you will want to be very careful if you have them and also have other taxidermy mounts.  If any get out they can reek havoc on trophies.  They are great for skull and bone cleaning though as long as the humidity and other factors are kept in check. 
Buck's Pro Mount Taxidermy
Todd Buchanan
Fairland,IN

Offline chefjeff

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2011, 03:12:09 AM »
I have done bear and deer skulls by putting them in a metal or plastic drum,with some small holes,and sinking them(tethered) in the lake behind the house.Make sure no turtles can get them out.A wire cage works also.Works in warm weather.

Offline DANNY-L

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Re: Meat eating beetles
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2012, 05:21:03 AM »
I have killed snapping turtles in the summer and I always take them out of the area so they don't stink and within a couple day they will be loaded with black beatles that clean everything off of them and then just disappear. I don't know what they are or where they come from but I am going to gather some up and try to keep them for a fall project sometime.