dermestid
noun
der·mes·tid
(ˌ)dər-ˈme-stəd 
: 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)
dermestid
adjective
Examples of dermestid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These useful bugs include dermestid beetles, the bugs that strip flesh from dead animals.
—
John Kelly, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
According to the team, the molts came from the larval ancestors of modern-day dermestids.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2023
The authors found that some of the feather portions and other remains were in intimate contact with the molts of the dermestid beetles and have some evidence of damage or decay.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2023
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
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John Kelly, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
According to the team, the molts came from the larval ancestors of modern-day dermestids.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2023
The authors found that some of the feather portions and other remains were in intimate contact with the molts of the dermestid beetles and have some evidence of damage or decay.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2023
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
Cite this Entry
“Dermestid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermestid. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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