Setting up my dermestid beetle colony

[@ShanmonWilliams6278]

The different kinds of people ones that get rid of bugs and ones that get them as pets or breed them for food

[@helenageerts2115]

@X2 JoelMK 33 some people like them as pets.

[@fioregiallo]

@X2 JoelMK 33 these are pets with a purpose. They clean flesh off of bones.

[@bloody_rainbow3928]

@X2 JoelMK 33 tho these ones are probably mainly for cleaning flesh there are people with pet insects such as myself most commonly mantids, moths/butterflys,tarantulas,snails,ants, many species of beetle and roaches

[@fioregiallo]

I witnessed carrion beetles in action last week and it was the coolest thing ever!! I really dislike flies and maggots, so it was already a win but I didn't realize that the carrion beetles prevent that awful stench of decay!! It was fascinating and I am going to protect them at all costs. Their life cycle is wild lol 💚

[@iambread31]

what are carrion beetles, dermstid beetles?

[@fioregiallo]

@@iambread31 no, they are in the family Silphidae, different type of beetle. They do feed on decaying flesh but they have a really interesting life cycle!!!! They colonize carcasses in all stages of decomp. Their babies eat the rotting flesh while the parents work together to bury the carcass and/or eat any maggots to prevent competition. Sometimes pairs will fight over a carcass, but sometimes they cooperate in a larger group. 🪲

[@OuchingTigerLimpingDragon]

My husband thinks I'm a freak for capturing and keeping the dermestid larvae that I find. (Our town has a chronic carpet beetle problem, and the house we bought had them when we moved in. Just didn't realize it til much later.)

[@JohnDiDough]

Do you ever need to change the substrate? If so, how?

[@autumnbee5264]

Could this species be used to clean meat from a specimine who's bones id like to keep?

[@captain1825]

… Hon I thought you were talking about cleaning meat off a human corpse. 😥🤚

[@ColdInsomniac]

Yes, I often do it by hand. My friends recommend these since they're quicker, they eat everything, but the bones

[@caronparker8457]

Small wire cage on an anthill works also. 😀

[@autumnbee5264]

@@caronparker8457 great plan, thank you!

[@jamietumiel4421]

@@captain1825 🤣

[@Theglobalhistoryproductions]

Nice

[@bowenthomas]

Cool vid but why the Cotton?❤️

[@thistlesforeden]

What are they chowing down on? 🤔

[@Alexandriaxxanime]

I would be terrified that they would escape

[@staceyquattro4456]

Why?

[@slugooey]

Why not? Same reason people keeps ants lol

[@TheWheelBry]

No, this type of beetle are used in forensics and for anatomy to clean the tissue off samples so you have clean bones. So if she has a something she wants to keep for educational purposes she can clean it easily with the bugs 🪲

[@angelsinthesky1]

What substrate is that?

[@caligirl1028]

Cotton balls

[@robertabray-enhus3198]

And what are they good for?

[@fioregiallo]

Cleaning flesh off of bones.

[@smokedcaramel3818]

Victims of course