Dermestes, a common genus of beetles in the section Pentamera, including several species of formidable voracity. The most familiar of these is
D. lardarius, often called the Bacon Beetle. In the open air it lives on dead animals, and is thus useful enough; but within doors it attacks bacon, cheese, dried meats, furs, cabinet collections, &c. The brown larvae are equally voracious. The insect itself is small, covered above with close, fine, black hairs, with the exception of the root of the wing-covers, which form a yellowish-brown band with three dark spots on each side. Both adults and larvae simulate death. Many other species are known on hides and the like. The larvae of some forms are occasionally utilised to clean small skeletons. The neighbouring genera Attagenus and Anthrenus also work great mischief.