Dermestes lardarius

Dermestes lardarius
Dermestes lardarius
Dermestes lardarius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Subfamily: Dermestinae
Tribe: Dermestini
Genus: Dermestes
Subgenus: Dermestes (Dermestes)
Species: D. lardarius
Binomial name
Dermestes lardarius
Linnaeus, 1758

Dermestes lardarius is a species of beetle found in the Palearctic (including Europe), and the Near East. In Europe, it is known from Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, mainland Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Kaliningrad, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, mainland Norway, Poland, Russia, Sardinia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia Dermestes Lardarius is a common pest in homes around the world [excluding the polar regions]. They are used by taxidermists to clean skeletons but are also a commonly used feeder in the hexapoda hobby. These beetles are known to eat keratin, a hard substance found in bones and nails of animals. These beetles are close relatives to the carpet beetle and as such are a common pantry pest in homes around Canada and the USA.

Care In captivity

Larder beetles are an easy dermestid to breed and culture. They only need four main things to thrive: food, moisture, hides and darkness. Food is relatively easy as they eat almost anything. Common foods are: pet food, fish food and sometimes meat prepared to jerky consistency. Moisture can be provided with a moist paper towel. Hides can be toilet paper rolls, egg crates/cartons and cotton. To provide extra darkness just place the enclosure (which must be hard plastic or glass) in a dark warm closet. Maintenance is as easy as keeping mold. All you need is to clean out the enclosure once every six months or so.

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