hunters union
​BEETLE SKULL CLEANING AND EUROPEAN MOUNTS
Salmon Arm, BC
Office 250.832.5508
Cell 250.803.3332
Dermestid Beetle Skull Ceaning
Hunters Union Dermestid Beetle Skull Cleaning provides safe and effective skull cleaning. At Hunters Union in Salmon Arm BC, we use dermestid beetles to thoroughly remove all tissue, followed by degreasing and whitening to produce a clean and eye-catching trophy. Dermestid beetle skull cleaning is a time tested method that is used by museums and other institutions that value quality and long lasting specimens.
Hunters Union Dermestid Beetle Skull Cleaning can provide cleaning and European skull mounting for your personal or professional skull preparation. For hunters, dermestid beetle cleaning by Hunters Union provides a clean and attractive skull or European Mount that can be displayed and admired for years to come.
Advantages of Dermestid Beetle Prepared Skulls:
* Minimal odor
* No additional bone shrinkage
* No cracking or damage to delicate bones
* Complete removal of tissue, fats, and oils
* Results in long lasting skulls for display with minimal yellowing
* A long standing method of cleaning used by museums to preserve valuable specimens
Our operation is unique in that we can provide cleaning for very large trophies such as a large bull moose or elk right here in Salmon Arm BC!
Hunters Union is centrally located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia and we accept skulls from throughout Canada by mail for all your skull cleaning needs.
See our Contact page for shipping details to Salmon Arm BC.
ABOUT US
Chad and Deanna Roth
Hi we are the owners/operators of Hunters Union, Chad and Deanna Roth. We were both born and raised hunting and fishing in Salmon Arm, BC. We have three small boys and spend our spare time passing on our love of the outdoors on to them. We are dedicated to providing a quality service to our customers, many of which are long term friends and family. Our methods have been passed on to us and have had many years of success to prove their effectiveness. We can be reached personally by the contact information provided and we welcome your comments or concerns.
The Basics
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These little critters eat meat and do a darn good job of stripping bone of all the flesh. They can get into the tiniest of places, cleaning the bones as they go to ensure nothing is left behind to rot and damage your trophy. Other cleaning methods can be damaging to fine, delicate bones and cause shrinkage, cracking and yellowing with age. Our method preserves the whole skeleton to last for years, this is why it is the chosen method of museums and educational facilities.
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One frequently asked question is "how long will it take?"
We can usually have your skull complete in under 6 months, however in our busy season (Nov-Feb) it may take longer. Large antlered animals take priority over smaller, more easily frozen skulls. However if you are in a rush we will do our best.
We take skulls in order of receiving them, though a phone call is great to give us a heads up that you will be coming, especially if you are bringing something large.
About the Beetles
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. They can range in size from 1–12 mm. Key characteristics for adults are round oval shaped bodies covered in scales or setae.[1] The (usually) clubbed antennae fit into deep grooves. The hind femora also fit into recesses of the coxa. Larvae are scarabaeiform and also have setae.
Dermestids have a variety of habits; most genera are scavengers that feed on dry animal or plant material such as skin or pollen, animal hair, feathers, dead insects and natural fibers. Members of Dermestes are found in animal carcasses, while others may be found in mammal, bird, bee, or wasp nests. Thaumaglossa only lives in the egg cases of mantids, while Trogoderma species are pests of grain.
These beetles are significant in forensic entomology. Some species are known to be associated with decaying carcasses which help with criminal investigations.
They are used in taxidermy and by natural history museums to clean animal skeletons. Some dermestid species, commonly called "bow bugs," infest violin cases, feeding on the bow hair.[2]
