Dermestidae (skin beetles)

The skin beetles (Derme­stidae) are small to medium-sized beetles of compact, mostly round oval body shape covered in scales and/or setae, sometimes patchily. Dermestidae occur in all biogeographical realms except the Antarctica. They exhibit many different lifestyles: Some feed on flowers and pollen, others are found on dry carrion, in nests of birds, mammals, bees and wasps, others are pests in grain stocks or museum collections. Worldwide some 1300 species in 50 genera have been described, thereof 50 from Germany. A considerable number of species has spread around the world with food commodities and many are now cosmopolitans.