Does anyone know whether carcasses of animals euthanized with barbiturates can be safely fed to dermestid beetles? We typically use pentabarbitol injections on the marine mammals and birds that our vet/rehab department is required to euthanize, but I don't know whether or not those chemicals have an effect on insects if ingested. These carcasses would be a welcome food source for my colony if they're safe to use.
Thanks,
Jason
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I have no idea how it'd affect them. No reason you can't try an experiment though. If you've got the facilities, set up a temporary colony with a couple hundred beetles from your colony. Feed them some and see how they react. They may not even eat it. They seem to sense what's edible and not. I know they don't really care to eat meat preserved by Formaldahyde.