Dermestes sardous
Herpetobiont, found on both dead invertebrates and dead vertebrates. The nominotypical form has uniform black elytra, but this species knows two colour variants: fulvofasciatus (one or two short brown longitudinal on each elytron) and striatellus (three long brown longitudinal stripes on each elytron).
Dermestes sardous:
Distribution: Circum-Mediterranean. Introduced in California, USA.
Origin: Mixed continents. In my care since 2026.
Description: The adults are 6 to 8 mm long. The pronotum and elytra are black, except for two transverse swirls of yellow hairs on the pronotum, and the head is covered in yellow hairs. The underside of the adult beetles are mainy white with a black spot at the end of the abdomen. The full-grown larvae are yellowish in colour with some darker spots and have relatively long hairs.