Rare Skin Eating Beetle Recorded in Wales for the First Time; Discovery Baffles Scientists

The rare "skin eating beetle" has already reached Wales. It has been found living on an island off the coast of Cardiff.

Skin-Eating Beetle Found Off the Coast of Cardiff

The Dermestes undulatus beetle was discovered on the isolated Flat Holm island. Researchers found a population they believe may be the last of its kind in the UK.

Cardiff Council reported that this is the first time the species has been identified in Wales and that no sightings of the species have been reported in England before 2020. The beetles were discovered by a visiting team of ecologists on Flat Holm Island, four miles (6.4 km) off the coast of Cardiff.

"These tiny beetles feed on the skin, fur and bones of dead animals," said Flat Holm community engagement officer Sarah Morgan. "It's not for the squeamish - Dermestes literally means skin eater."

The island, which sits in the middle of the Bristol Channel and frequently lacks access to water or electricity, is vulnerable to bad weather. Although it's not known exactly how the beetles arrived on the island, Morgan suggested that it's possible that birds brought them there by carrying scavenged carcasses.

Morgan added that they are a pain in museum collections but incredibly useful in forensic science to help determine how long a body has been in situ.

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Flesh-Eating Beetle Explained

Flesh-eating beetles, called dermestids, are considered "nature's forensic scientists." The term "dermestid" comes from a Greek word that means "skin," and it is a fitting name for the insect. Only 14 species of scarab beetles consume carrion, and the actual flesh-eating insects, called dermestids, exclusively devour the dead. These insects are advantageous because they clean bones, which are important for forensic experts' identification and taxidermy.

In a process known as skeletonization, these creepy crawlies will consume the flesh from carcasses when harsh chemicals risk damaging evidence, such as bone markings; wildlife law enforcement officers utilize the beetles to reveal skeletons.

Taxidermists and museum curators also use the bugs to clean remains for study and exhibition. A corpse will frequently be picked clean by hundreds of dermestid beetles.

Ken Hansen, a former federal game warden with the United States, said it was a low-tech fix for a typically high-tech issue. Dermestid beetles have been available for purchase from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for the past six years.

Hansen shared an instance when they used skin-eating beetles to investigate a case. According to him, they employed the insects to clean a skull they had in preparation for a possible murder investigation. Thus, he agreed that this beetle has a place in forensics.

Dermestids are also referred to as carpet beetles. There are three different kinds, and their sizes vary. Members of the genera Attagenus and Anthrenus are called "carpet beetles," they can range in length from 6 to 25 mm or 1/4 to 1 inch. The black carpet beetle measures 2.8 to 5 millimeters in length and has legs that are either dark brown or lustrous black. Meanwhile, the varied carpet beetle is 2 to 3 mm long and may come in white, yellow, brown, or gray-yellow colors.