Auburn University Dermestid Beetle Colony
The dermestid beetle colony at Auburn is used to aid researchers and students in preparing skeletons from study specimens. The beetle colonies are housed in the Physiology Building as part of the Auburn University Natural History Learning Center. Each semester, undergraduates learn how to use these colonies as research tools as part of their undergraduate research experience.To date, some 150 specimens have been prepared using our current colonies. Speciemens from 6 continents have been skeletonized, including numerous fish, flying squirrels, alligators, 6 species of turtles, rattle snakes, coyotes, cats, and deer. There are plans to prepare a paddlefish, a crevalle jack, and a crocodile.
If you would like to discuss skeletal preparations, please contact me at rayclif@auburn.edu.
Pictures of the beetles and their work will be up soon.