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Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is one of the most common beetles in poultry farms and livestock facilities. Adults and larvae damage these facilities through feeding and at the moment of pupation. This species has also been recognized as a significant component of the cadaveric fauna. Trials were conducted to study the effect of substrate type, particularly of the wood type, and larval density on D. maculatus pupation. Pupae were more abundant in soft wood than in the other types of wood, decreasing abundance when density increased. Larval mortality was greater in the presence of 60 larvae. Time until pupation was lesser in soft wood than in the other woods but an increasing duration was observed when density increased. Pupa average duration was 7.25 ± 0.28 days (174 ± 6.72 h). Time until adult showed the same results that those obtained for the time until pupation. The adult length was greater in soft wood than in the other woods but it decreased when density increased. Soft wood and larval density have effects on hide beetles pupation, affecting larvae preference for woods, larval mortality, time until pupation, time until adult, and adult morphology. Recommendations to farmers or animal breeders and scientists were provided as well as data of forensic importance in the post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation |
