The Hide Beetle is a small, mottled brown-and-white dermestid beetle famous for its role in consuming dried animal material — skins, feathers, stored meats, and dead insects. Museum conservators worldwide use colonies of dermestid beetles including this species to clean vertebrate skeletons for collections. Adults and larvae are associated with carrion and stored animal products.
Best time to see a Hide Beetle
The best time to see a Hide Beetle is March–July, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 108 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Hide Beetle? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Hide Beetle sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spotted a Hide Beetle?
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