Uso de dermestídeos na produção de osteomodelos veterinários: criação, manejo e aplicações

Abstract

Beetles, with approximately 350,000 described species, play important ecological roles in the environment. Leatherback beetles (Dermestes maculatus De Geer, 1774) consume dry organic tissues and are widely used to clean skeletons, as they preserve delicate structures such as teeth and small bones. Compared to traditional maceration, they offer more precise bone cleaning and better quality in the production of anatomical specimens. This work aimed to present techniques for rearing, managing, and applying D. maculatus in the production of veterinary osteomodels at the Laboratory of Conservation Medicine (LAMCON-UFPB), highlighting their efficiency in preserving delicate bone structures. To this end, colonies were established from adult individuals and larvae, maintained in plastic containers under controlled temperature between 25 and 28 °C and humidity around 70%, using sanitized substrates and a regular supply of animal tissues as a food source. The preparation of the specimens included steps of evisceration, removal of bulky tissues, and subsequent cleaning of bone material by the colonies, complemented by clarification processes, structural stabilization with adhesives, and mounting for didactic use. The results demonstrated the production of approximately 89 anatomical specimens belonging to birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, encompassing more than 30 taxonomic orders. The preservation of delicate structures, such as scleral ossicles, palatine lamellae, and dental arches, frequently lost in traditional maceration methods, was noteworthy. The preparation time varied according to the size of the species; small mammals and bats were processed in up to a week, while larger species required longer periods. It was also observed that environmental factors, such as excess humidity, favored the proliferation of mites, interfering with the efficiency of the colony. Furthermore, the use of adhesives combined with sodium bicarbonate proved effective in stabilizing fragile specimens, extending their durability for academic purposes. It is concluded that the use of dermestids represents an efficient, economical, and less aggressive alternative for the preparation of osteomodels, ensuring greater structural preservation and expanding their didactic, scientific, and clinical potential in Veterinary Medicine. As a direct result of these findings, an ebook with similar content, more accessible to the public, is being developed and will be finalized at a later stage.