Success! (Mostly!)

Pictured above is the completed mink skull. This is the very first piece I've ever completed using dermestid beetles EXCLUSIVELY in terms of macerating a specimen.They started a little slowly at first, but really took off as I figured out the proper feeding cycle. In order to achieve the rate of consumption I desired, I found that overfeeding the beetles was the key. In order to get them to eat faster, I gave them more and more to eat simultaneously. In addition to the mink, I added the skull of a Great Horned Owl (as a gift to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.) Below, is the finished product of that as well. It was incredibly interesting to find the absolutely massive bony rings (sclerotic rings) that keep the owl's eyes inside their head.

Notes for future bird specimens:

1. Do NOT degrease the skull or the components thereof with any enzymatic washing cleaners. They are very effective at breaking down soft tissue and will obliterate the cartilage keeping the sclerotic rings together.

1. Cover the beak sheaths and claws with clear nail polish or thin shellac to protect the color and integrity of the beak intact. As you can see from the owl, the hydrogen peroxide bath did a number on the beak sheaths; they are dull and flaky. 
2. Get a good (read: sharp) set of needle nosed forceps in order to easily handle small bones, like the small plates that make up the sclerotic rings, the hyoid bones, small mammal teeth, etc. 

Red-Tailed Hawk - Update 2/26/2017

Finally, some success! The Red-Tailed Hawk I had begun to process via dermestid beetles is near completion! The cartilagenous rings of the eyes are almost completely cleaned of flesh and tendon. The beetles are currently at work removing the flesh from the rest of the skull. This might be my favorite form of skull/bone processing. I believe the colony is now "hot" and processing at near peak efficiency. I will be removing the skulls (there is also a mink skull in there,) in approximately a week, and after the four day post-processing procedures, the skulls will be photo ready. Updates to come!

Cooper's Hawk - Update 2/26/2017

As you know, the original attempt at processing the Cooper's Hawk via dermestid beetle was a bit of a failure. In an attempt to save ANY of the bones, I trietd to water macerate the skeleton and, given the winter season, that too was a near total failure. The bones of a bird are hollow meaning that expanding water within them tends to expand when frozen causing cracks and general deterioration of the bones. I did, however, manage to save most of the skull. The beak sheath was lost, but given the circumstances, it was to be expected. The same applies to the cartilagenous rings of the eyes.

Learn something new every day, I suppose.

Dermestid Beetles 1/29/2017

1/29/2017
While I was feeding the critters today, I noticed that they have started picking up the pace. It used to be that they could go through over half way through a pinky in about three or four days, they have begun going through them much faster. I pt one in as recently as 1/27/17 and it was eaten nearly completely. I got to learn something rather interesting today, as well. While examining the remains of the pinkies, I noticed that the beetles had eaten through not just the flesh, but through half of the youngest pinky's skull! It seems that when the pinkies are very young, the bones are still very soft and more reminiscent of cartilage and less like bone. This means that the beetles can eat through the thinner parts of the skull and through the not-yet-fused vertebral column. I think it is time that I start preparing a new specimen so that I can take advantage of this new rate of consumption. Also, this would train them to eat more rigorously and often.

As a side note, I forgot to mention that because I received all of my beetles as larva, it is going to take at least 45 days to have a viable colony. While larva are great consumers, it is a better idea to have a healthy variety of ages in the same colony. You should always have beetles as adults (actual beetles,) to constantly add eggs to the tank. You should also have infant larva present as they are voracious eaters immediately after hatching. This combination of ages creates a smooth flow of progress. With any luck, I will have a completely cleaned specimen in about a month. I will be breaking up the specimen into about 4 portions (head, legs, tail, and torso.) This will allow the beetles to work on small parts at once, which makes it easier for the to process.

First Set of Finished Bones

These are the bones of a common groundhog. The process to get to this point took a total of 4 months of cool to cold temperatures. A few bones are missing, but there is still plenty to work with.