\Der*mes"tes\, n. [NL., from Gr. ?; ? skin + root of ?
to eat.] (Zo["o]l.)
A genus of coleopterous insects, the larv[ae] of which feed
animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats,
skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is {D.
lardarius}, known as the {bacon beetle}.