dermestid

noun

der·mes·tid | \ (ˌ)dər-ˈme-stəd

Definition of dermestid

: any of a family (Dermestidae) of beetles with clubbed antennae that are very destructive to organic material of animal origin (such as dried meat, wool, or museum specimens)

Other Words from dermestid Example Sentences Learn More About dermestid

Examples of dermestid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then the cleaning crew dries the skulls for a few days before putting them in a colony of dermestid beetles, which will eat off the rest of the fleshy bits. — National Geographic, 23 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dermestid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.