# 'flesh-eating' worms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272 "2001-07-21T01:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/1 "2001-07-21T01:19:30Z")
Once I saw a show about forensic detective (IIRC) who used some type of worms to clean the flesh off of bones making them easier to study. Apparently this is better (and less messy) than, say, boiling or other methods. They refered to a specific type of worm that was the most effecient. I think the F.B.I. uses them. What are they, where can I get them? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/2 "2001-07-21T01:26:17Z")
You sure they were worms? I’ve heard of naturalists using dermestid beetles for that purpose – one author described them as “all but Simonizing” the bones. Supposedly, the Smithsonian is the main supplier, should you be interested in picking up a few. ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/3 "2001-07-21T01:37:18Z")
No, not sure it was worms. Are you suggesting the Smithsonion sells them? ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/4 "2001-07-21T02:28:14Z")
[I don’t know about the Smithsonian, but this crowd does.](http://www.carolina.com/manuals/manuals2/DERCUL%20(1).pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/5 "2001-07-21T02:36:52Z")
**AAAAAHH!!** Curse you, Gaspode, that was an Acrobat Reader PDF file! :mad: [sub]heh[/sub] 😃 Anyway, here you go, Warmgun. Enjoy! [http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html](http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html) I have no idea why it says they won’t sell them to residents of Montana. ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/6 "2001-07-21T02:53:21Z")
No direct experience, but I think that it is actually the larvae of the beetles that eat flesh, which would help explain the “worms”. ---
**Author:** ![scraps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@scraps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scraps)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/7 "2001-07-21T02:56:52Z")
Just curious. why do you want to buy them? ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/8 "2001-07-21T03:18:59Z")
You’d be surprised scraps. Preparing specimens for teaching, museums and art would be the most common uses. We had a thread question a few months ago from someone looking for tips on how to de-flesh skulls for artistic uses. Sorry about the PDF link DDG. Is that a problem? I don’t even notice them. ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/9 "2001-07-21T17:35:07Z")
Thanks for the help gang, and the link Duck Duck Goose. My daughter, the tomboy, is always collecting animal skulls she finds on her hikes. You really don’t know why they wouldn’t sell them to the folks in Montana?.. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-eating-worms/73272/10 "2001-07-21T18:53:33Z")
I notice that they’re located _in_ Montana. so they probably don’t want to deal with some local tax or someething. Or maybe thay didn’t want the Unabomber getting his hands on them… 😃