by Kodiak Bones | May 3, 2022 | Taxidermy
How Many Dermestid Beetles do I Need to Clean a Skull? Whether you are a hunter and you plan to produce several European mounts this hunting season, a taxidermist, or an artist that specializes in carving animal skulls, you likely know the benefits of using dermestid...
by Kodiak Bones | Mar 31, 2022 | Taxidermy
Dermestid beetles are used by experienced hunters, taxidermists, and artists to clean animal skulls without inflicting any damage to the fine little bones in the nasal cavity and eye sockets, and they don’t cause the bone to yellow in color, unlike boiling. Investing...
by Kodiak Bones | Feb 7, 2022 | Taxidermy
When it comes to trying to determine the right size of a dermestid beetle colony to buy, many hunters, artists, and taxidermists aren’t entirely sure what size of colony they need. Even though dermestid beetle larvae are only about 12 millimeters long, these insects...
by Kodiak Bones | Dec 22, 2021 | Taxidermy
Why Artists Use the Best Dermestid Beetles for Deer Skull Art Deer skull art has exploded in popularity and encompasses a wide variety of decorative styles, techniques, and intended purposes. While European mounts are traditional and highly sought after,...
by Kodiak Bones | Dec 15, 2021 | Taxidermy
Why Do the Best Hunters Use Dermestid Beetles for Hunting Trophy Cleaning? If you are a hunter and your hobby expands into European mounts, then you know first hand that the preparation and cleaning of animal skulls are critical skills looped right into the...
by Kodiak Bones | Aug 7, 2021 | Taxidermy
Mounted figures and skulls of birds, small mammals, and large game represent the art of taxidermy, or the preparing, stuffing, and mounting of skins of animals. Records of the practice date back to the 16th century. The art form has survived into the modern day to...
by Kodiak Bones | Aug 7, 2021 | Taxidermy
Skull cleaning is a process in which the skull of a hunted or trapped animal, or one that has expired due to natural causes, is prepared for display. It is an important step in taxidermy. However, it can be time-consuming, messy, and unpleasant, depending on the...
by Kodiak Bones | Aug 7, 2021 | Taxidermy
Taxidermists have a few options when it comes to preserving the bones of animal specimens. A few can be rather harsh, such as chemical treatments (i.e., tanning) and boiling, but skeletonization can be achieved in an easier, more natural way—with dermestid beetles. In...
by Kodiak Bones | Aug 6, 2021 | Taxidermy
Flesh-eating beetles, or dermestids, are harmless beetles that eat flesh off animal carcasses and human remains. The larvae of dermestid beetles feed continuously until all that’s left is bone. This process is known as skeletonization and is often used by...
by Kodiak Bones | Aug 6, 2021 | Taxidermy
Dermestid beetles are often used in taxidermy, as their larvae are efficient scavengers that feed on dead tissue until there’s nothing left but bone. Colonies need proper care to thrive. You’ll need a minimum of 300 beetles to get started, and 1,000 to 5,000 to...
