12/24/2025
The golden question - why is your turn around much longer than other European Mount taxidermists?
The beetle process is much longer than boiling and maceration, and there’s a reason for that.
A skull typically stays in the beetle tank 2–3 days if the beetles are performing well, but it can be as short as 1–2 days or as long as 6–10 days depending entirely on how the colony is doing. The larvae (babies) do about 90% of the work, so when they start turning into adults, the process naturally slows down. When a new hatch occurs, the beetles go into complete overdrive and can sometimes
clean a skull in a single day.
Once the beetles are finished, the skull must hang in the tank for 7 days. This step is extremely important. Adult beetles lay eggs on the skull, and removing it too soon would mean losing thousands of eggs, which directly affects the health and productivity of the colony.
After that, the skull moves into the degreasing stage, which is an essential part of the process. Unlike boiling—where grease is forced out quickly—I degrease using warm water that must be changed every 24 hours. This stage typically lasts 4–5 days to ensure all grease is properly removed.
Next comes the whitening stage. I do not use bleach or harsh chemicals. Many people do—but I don’t. Because of that, whitening can take 2–4 days, but it protects the integrity of the skull and prevents brittleness over time.
This isn’t a “boil it, whiten it, and done” operation. That’s simply not how I run my business.
I value your trophy and take the time to create a product that will last, not one that becomes brittle or deteriorates down the road. Yes, my wait times are longer than most European mount taxidermists—but I promise it’s worth it.
I like to tell people I’m on bug time, and that’s no exaggeration. When the beetles slow down, my entire operation slows down. When the beetles are booming, so is my business.
I truly thank every one of you who has trusted me with your trophy and been patient through this process. In the end, it is completely worth it. 🦌
