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Webster 1913 Edition
Dermestes
‖
Der-mes′tes
,Noun.
[NL., from Gr.
δερμηστής
; δέρμα
skin + root of [GREEK] to eat.] (Zool.)
A genus of coleopterous insects, the larvæ of which feed animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is
Dermestes lardarius
, known as the bacon beetle
.