3 Common Dermestid Beetle Challenges in Taxidermy and How to Overcome Them

Taxidermists have long relied on dermestid beetles as a critical tool for preserving bone structure in animal specimens. These tiny beetles are adept at cleaning skeletons with precision, offering a level of detail that’s hard to match with conventional methods. However, before you buy taxidermy beetles, you need to know the challenges you may face and how to overcome them. Otherwise, you’ll disrupt your workflow or impact specimen quality. Here’s a closer look at three of the most common issues taxidermists face with dermestid beetles and how to address each effectively.

Temperature Control and Environmental Stability

Maintaining a stable temperature for your beetle colony is crucial, but it’s not always easy. Dermestid beetles thrive in temperatures around 70-80°F (21-27°C). When temperatures deviate from this range, the beetles’ feeding and breeding rates can drop, making it difficult to maintain an efficient cleaning cycle. A temperature that’s too low can slow down their metabolism, while higher temperatures might increase stress levels or encourage aggressive behaviors within the colony, leading to an uneven cleaning process.

To maintain an optimal environment, consider using temperature-regulating equipment, such as thermostats and heaters with programmable controls. These allow you to keep conditions stable even during seasonal temperature shifts. If you’re working in a space without centralized heating or air conditioning, a small space heater or fan can help offset temperature fluctuations.

Mold Growth

Mold spores thrive in damp, dark conditions, which makes your beetle colony an ideal environment if not carefully managed. When mold infiltrates the colony, it can quickly spread across the beetles’ substrate and onto your specimens, causing irreversible damage to both the colony and the taxidermy project. Mold also poses health risks to the beetles themselves, as it contaminates their food and living environment, leading to an unhealthy or less productive colony.

Preventing mold involves controlling humidity, but regular cleaning and monitoring practices are also essential. Ensure that any specimens you introduce to the colony are dry, as damp specimens are a primary source of mold. Check daily for any signs of mold and remove affected areas promptly, as ignoring even small patches can allow mold to spread. Incorporating a small amount of baking soda or activated charcoal into the colony’s bedding can also help absorb moisture and discourage mold growth.

Colony Overpopulation and Cannibalism

While a large, thriving beetle colony might sound ideal, overpopulation can actually work against you in taxidermy. When too many beetles compete for limited resources, they may resort to cannibalism or damage the skeleton by overfeeding on the remains. Overpopulation can also create stress among beetles, causing them to damage each other or fail to complete the cleaning process uniformly.

To manage colony size, you’ll need to monitor breeding rates and remove surplus beetles when necessary. A good rule of thumb is to adjust colony size based on the number of specimens you’re working on at any given time. If you have more beetles than needed, split the colony into two or distribute the extras to other taxidermists who may benefit from a population boost. Some taxidermists also find success in creating separate “holding tanks” to house beetles when the primary colony becomes overcrowded.

Proper feeding is essential to prevent beetles from turning on each other. When feeding them, provide only as much as they can consume within a few days to ensure they don’t feel the need to scavenge or attack weaker members of the colony. Consistent monitoring and proactive management will help you maintain a balanced, harmonious beetle colony capable of working on your specimens without risk of damage.

Summing Up

Managing dermestid beetles in taxidermy requires careful environmental control, colony management, and diligent monitoring. Properly managed, these beetles are an invaluable asset to any taxidermy project.