Skin beetles are consistently strong, arched beetles with oval or round body shapes. The surface is almost always covered with small, coloured hair or dandruff, which provides distinctive drawings. The larvae are covered with long hair of various kinds. Some of the hair is the cause of skin irritation in people. They feed primarily on the dry remains of plants and animals. Some of the skin beetle larvae belong to the carrion fauna. They first appear in carrion when maggots and others have eaten most of the meat. Skin beetles eat cartilage and dry meat leftovers. Some skin beetles can also digest hair and feathers.