Dermestid beetles will effectively remove any flesh and sinew on bone.
Preparing bones for crafts requires using Dermestid beetles to clean the bones. These beetles survive by eating rotten flesh, and can be found at online taxidermy sites. This is the preferred method of preparing bones by taxidermists, artists and hobbyists. Dermestid beetles eat muscle and cartilage, while leaving the bones untouched. Over a few days to a few weeks, the Dermestid beetles eat and reproduce. The adult beetles eat the flesh and feed the larvae until they are mature. During this time, the beetles should be treated as pets. You will have to give them water and clean the bucket you're keeping them in. Begin with at least 300 to 500 adult beetles for a medium sized project consisting of 2 to 3 bones. After they have been stripped by the beetles, use bleach to whiten and make the bones sterile. The type of bleach in hair kits works well and is affordable. Once the bones are dry, you can use them in craft and other projects.
Instructions
1. Acquire your bones from a butcher or meat market. Keep the bones in a plastic bag in a dry location for a day or two. This will allow the flesh on the bones to begin to rot, which will attract the Dermestid beetles. Wear gloves while handling the bones.
2. Prepare the deep bucket with nesting material for the beetles to live in. Line the bottom of the bucket with 3 to 4 inches of cotton batting and shredded paper. The beetles will be shipped through the mail in a box marked "live insects." When the package arrives, open it carefully in your bug bucket. Wear rubber gloves. It is okay to leave the box in the bucket. Poke ventilation holes in the top of the bucket so that the beetles get air. Maintain a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The beetles will be most active in a warm environment. If they seem lethargic, move the bucket to a warmer area. Follow a watering schedule. Once a week, place a moist paper towel into the bucket. Dermestid beetles need a little bit of water to aid digestion. Maintain a feeding schedule of meat scraps when the beetles have no bones to clean.
3. Place the bones into the beetle bucket gently using tongs. One or two bones can be cleaned by a few hundred beetles. For large bones like a skull, up to a thousand beetles are required. Check on the bones weekly until they are clean. Cleaning time will vary depending on bone size, the number of beetles used and the rate at which they reproduce, and can take anywhere from a week to a month. The bones are clean when there is no more flesh, blood, fat or sinew on them, and the beetles are no longer feeding or walking on them. The beetles will have to be fed to survive until you next bone-cleaning project. Keep them alive by dropping in scraps of meat once a week. They will be content as long as they are fed and watered. Make sure to replace the bucket's lid. If you are finished with the beetles and want to get rid of them, call your local animal control for advice on disposal.
4. Remove the bones once they are completely clean. Tap each bone lightly on the side of the bucket to remove any beetles that may be on it. Allow the bones to dry out for a day or two.
5. Bleach the bones in a special peroxide bath. In another bucket, mix professional quality hair bleaching powder (available at beauty supply shops) according to the directions on the bottle. To whiten the bones, the bleach solution should be at least 30% peroxide. Do not use chlorine bleach for this step; it will destroy the bones. Wear rubber gloves while doing this and work in a well-ventilated area.
6. Add the bones to the bucket and pour in the bleach solution. The liquid should cover the bones entirely. This is required for even whitening. Place on a lid onto the container and leave overnight.
7. Pull out the bones one at a time with your tongs. Let the bleach solution drip off. Discard the bleach in a sink. Allow the bones to air-dry until they are completely dry and no longer smell like bleach. After they have dried, the bones are ready for use.
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