DEER SKULL TO BE DE-GREASED NEXT

The deer skull is totally without flesh - the beetles did a fine job.

I'll get my degreasing tub out tomorrow and put the detergent water and get the  heater cranked up. Give that puppy a couple of weeks and then see what needs done. I find cleaning skulls boring. You wait, you look, you wait, you look. Pat's bear took MONTHS to finely get clean....but it was worth all that time because it is clean and grease free. 

I just reset all the teeth this week. The small bear is next.  By that time I'll be waiting on the deer. 

I am going to get some pictures of my bugs soon. I've got a couple of other projects that are almost completed and photos are necessary. I have some bugs grazing on deer and some showing the size difference between males and females...that most never see in their own bugs.

I raise really good dermestids!

SKULL CLEANING WITH DERMESTIDS - TRICKS

Dermestid beetles are capable of turning a head into a clean skull in a few days.

I took my freshly cleaned colony and added a deer head. This colony has stripped heads in three days and it is even larger now.  Today is day 3 and it needs another day or so to finish. It took me a little while to figure out why the bugs are so slow - then I realized the problem. Temperature.  So simple and I know just what a few degrees can do.

Even though it is summer our temps have been lower than usual and the building my colony is in has been cooler than I like. Nighttime temps went into the 50s and my small room was just a little over 60 degrees.

Dermestid beetles are very active between 70 and 85 degrees...Raise the temps and you raise their metabolism  and they need to eat more.

That is a trick most dermestid users do not know. 

This afternoon those larvae and beetles were busy and cleaning just as they should. All is well in beetledum when the heat is on!

THE BEETLE COLONY WAS A BIT CHILLY - AC IS WONDERFUL WHEN IT'S HOT

Bugs really do not like air conditioning if the temps drop to under 65 degrees.

The cover over my vent slipped and my little room was less than warm. The beetle herd came out for their drink but then the critters were in a huddle when I put the deer skull in the containment box.

I put the cover back and and closed the door so my little bug room would warm up. It is quite strange when the summer heat feels like chilly fall. Those bugs were obviously huddled...I came back in an hour and all was well in the bug house and the skull and jaw were covered in larvae

I told the clean up crew to get busy and get the job done. My herd of bugs are so interesting and I have developed a fondness for them.

BONES, SKULLS AND SKELETONS - LUNCH FOR A BEETLE

Flesh Eating Beetles, chew all the bones clean!

Having a colony of these insects provide a lot of strange conversations. Most people do not have any idea of what they are or what they are used for. 

When you say "they're bugs that eat the meat off skulls and skeletons," peoples mouth drops open slightly and the verbal response is - "THEY DO WHAT?" Then, "WHY?"

It is then you know you've lost them...they are icked out and have no desire to learn anything more.

Occasionally you will find someone that is a kindred soul. They are interested, they UNDERSTAND...and you can actually have a conversation without seeing eyes rolling and the look.

People with curious minds are wonderful! They might not have bugs but they will have something else that's kewl.  Oh yes, one other thing about this kind of people.....their minds never grow old from not being used. Curiosity keeps them young.

SKULL CLEANING - THE ART AFTER THE BEETLES

From Skull to Trophy in Three Steps.

After the beetle colony removes all the flesh from the skull, it needs to have the grease removed from the bone and then bleached to the desired shade of white. The process can be short, resulting in a natural bone color or to a complete dazzling bright, white.

The bleaching process is accomplished with hydrogen peroxide, this chemical also disinfects the bone.   

    

When finished the skull should be sealed to prevent dust and hand oils from restaining it.

Some people love the white look while others want natural. However, there choices that are less traditional - metalized, with or without patina, stained in most any color and even dipped coatings such as camo.  

This part of skull finishing is turning  bone into a beautiful work of art.

DO YOU HAVE A DERMESTID BEETLE COLONY?

Cleaning skulls for fun or profit.

If you have a beetle colony you may use it to clean skulls or you are a hobbyist using them for pretty much the same thing. The difference is money or pleasure, the bugs do not care. Their only goal is to survive and their owners provide skulls, bones and food as well as the daily drink. For them that's probably better than living in the wild. There they face food sources that may be scarce, possible predation from birds and other insects.

Bugs life in a colony is secure and safe,

Most owners realize that these insects are important to them because they do a great cleaning job. They are also generally well cared for and protected from anything that can threated the colonies well being as the owner fas a large investment of time and money in the colony.

The Bone Cleaners, natures clean up crew that also works for people! The colony can be compared to a living tool.

VENTILATING MY BEETLE COLONY - ODOR CONTROL

This last year we have kept my colonies in a small, closet size room. The boxes have passive ventilation and the room is heated, cooled and humidified as needed, it also has it's own ventilation setup. This has worked decently but it is not what is needed.

We are now in the construction phase of the new, in box, mechanical ventilation system.

No more dermestid frass odor, no skull smells, no more humidity spikes...life is good at the bug farm!

The system will be set up for at least 3 colonies with room to add more, low flow air exchanges and that type of system will not create health problems for my bugs -unlike the bath fan for a freezer which dries out eggs and small larvae. That kind of air movement is like being in a 10 mile an hour wind, nasty living condition even for a beetle!  I am so pleased...of course, I tend to be easily pleased.

After we get this thing built and installed we plan on making the information on construction and the math to gage sizes of piping and other components available. More on that later.

SKULL CLEANING WITH DERMESTID BEETLES

Flesh eating beetles are a great way to clean skulls and bones.

A moderately large colony of dermestids can clean a deer or bear skull in just a few days. Every bit of tissue inside and out will be consumed by the hungry larvae. There is no spot to small to clean as the newly hatched larvae utilize these areas that the bigger ones cannot push into. Nature provides a place at the table for every size class of these insects. 

The larvae will clean the inside of the skull and the nasel cavity leaving the delicate nasel bones intact.

After just a few days your skull will look totally different from what you placed into that box. It is by no means a finished item but with a little more time and work it will be a work of art.

There are thousands of people who raise dermestid beetles. For many it is a hobby, they collect skulls or some even make art and jewelry from bones. Others clean skulls as a business. These people take a hunters's trophy and turn it into memories. 

A well done European style mount is a beautiful piece of nature.

BEETLE TRANSFER ALMOST FINISHED!

CLEANING A FŁESH EATING BEETLES HOME TAKES                                          TIME

After baiting bugs for a while it looks like I'm about done. Today's catch was down to mostly very small larvae. I am going to start house cleaning on the second colony next week.  I'll leave the traps in and try to get as many of the tiny ones as possible.

I really need to get some more meat for the crew..going to talk with two meat cutters.  Hopefully, that will get me what I need. The bug kids eat their dog chow fine but they love their meat.

 That's what you get for raising bugs that are carnivorous.

Just another problem facing anyone trying to raise these insects until you get enough stored flesh. However, even if you do have lots of wild game meat frozen, you will still need to provide some fatty meat to the bugs. Most do not do this but there are reasons why and some time I'll tell a little story that I have spent 2 years researching.

Enjoy the rest of the day and happy bugging!

INFORMATION ON DERMESTID BEETLES

Dermestid beetles and their colonies do not have to stink!

You can find two thoughts on dermestid beetles and the smell of a colony...one group (those who are selling) and then others. The two seem to have totally different opinions.

 Many sellers use terms like worm bedding or musky or earthy, and those terms actually fit.....if you only feed dry dog kibble and never put a skull in the box. 

Then things happen and not for the good. If the skull still has some brain matter you will probably be subjected to the most gagging, foul, nasty odors you have ever experienced unless you know a trick or two.

Actually there is no trick, just a very simple fix...called ventilation. 

This magical fix can be used with any size colony, from the small 5 gallon aquarium to a big chest freezer and if done right it will not cause problems for the critters. If done wrong it will cost you money, kill some of your bone cleaners and many exposed eggs.

More information on that subject later. I can't give up all my little bits of information just yet.

DERMESTIDS EAT MEAT

Cleaning skulls is easier than cleaning a dermestid colony

I'm still transfering bugs from the old colony to the clean one. We found that using a deli tray works pretty slick. I placed it down into the substrate and baited it with some moist fresh pork trimmings. The larvae can get in but the sides are to slick to climb and  probably moved a couple hundred today. I baited the tray again and will check it in the morning. Hopefully this chore will be  done by next week this time.

Then I'll start on box number two. Shuddering at the thought of another multi-thousand transfer but it is part of having a colony or three of dermestid beetles.

It is always surprising at how many small larvae you find hiding out until you get a lot of the bigger ones out. Those are going to be the bone cleaners in three or four weeks.

DERMESTID BEETLES - EASY TO RAISE

The title is semi-true, until you hear,  "my colony has mites or my colony is dying". Those words are typed or spoken a lot in forums that are frequented by people using the bugs for skull cleaning.

The truth about raising these animals is not many people really know much about them. They feed them, water them sometimes and then walk away. These small creatures tend to survive until they don't.

It's a shame because dermestids are an interesting  insect that left their tooth marks on dinosaur bones and continue to survive today in pretty much the same form.

I AM BUGGY....DERMESTIDS ARE WINNING

Cleaning a Dermestid Colony - is a dirty job

I'm still transfering beetles out of the old box into the fresh home.  My roadkill deer bones are all used up so I am going to have to clean out the freezer.

THOSE BUGS CANNOT OUTSMART ME!

Fresh meat will bring them out and they will be moved. That's tomorrows job.

Flesh eating beetles are my odd pets and perhaps my money makers!

HOUSE CLEANING A DERMESTIÐ COLONY

Cleaning a Bug's house is a pain! 

There is no fast, or easy way to do this job and everyone I read about puts it off as long as possible. The chore is like cleaning the frig......only do it when you can't get any more things into it or it smells like something died in it.

I never go fast because if you do you'll will throw away a LOT of small larvae. I grew those things and don't want to toss any little bone cleaners away. With the adults reaching maturity there should be a big jump in numbers. We'll look to advertise one complete colony soon and another in about two months. By then they should clean a head in two or three days.

Another thought.....and yes my thoughts do jump around!

This past 2 years I've been making notes on bugs, and I finally filled my 7th notebook. There is so many interesting things to learn...if you are curious and enjoy digging.

We also got all the parts to start assembling the ventilation
system - three colonies linked into a low flow system. No odors, no humidity problems. The Dermestid  beetles will be so happy.

INFORMATION ON DERMESTID BEETLES

Real information is hard to find-Dermestes maculitus

There really isn't good information available on raising these beetles....so much miss information, bits and pieces that may be correct but not enought to really do anything with. If you need help or want to improve the beetle cleaning you are pretty much one your own.

 My goal is to learn everything about dermestid beetles!