Scientists at Brigham Young University have proven that the dinosaurs had a bug problem. According to new research to be published later this week in the scientific journal Ichnos, beetles fed on dinosaur bones.

As a student at BYU, Britt said he wondered what made the mysterious pit marks in the bones he was removing rock from. As a professor, he may have found the answer: insects.

"Most bones have a nice smooth surface," Britt said as he pointed out tunnels, holes and pock marks on bones in his office. "Do you see these holes all over this thing?"

No one knew what was causing the wear that was common. Britt said scientists just called it bone rot until he started looking at the marks that were left behind and comparing them to insect bites. Other scientists have written about insects eating bone, but Britt has figured out which insects ate what.

Britt's latest research shows that dermestid beetle larvae ate away the ends of bone pieces of a Camptosaurus found in Wyoming. The insects ate at the ends of the bones because that's where the most organic matter is found.

"You can see most ends of the bones are missing. Even where the ribs attached, they've chewed it all up," Britt said. "Now we know that insects have been in there eating it."

Dermestid beetles, commonly called carpet beetles, are still around today boring through anything they can find.

"They're ornery little things," Britt said.

It's been millions of years, but Britt is certain it's the same type of insect.

"I would say we're pretty safe to say they're the same genus still," Britt said.

He and his student assistant, Anne Dangerfield, who is currently working on a master's degree, looked at thousands of bones from sites across the country to find evidence of insects at work.

"That was about three years ago. It took me an entire summer," Dangerfield said.

Beetles aren't the only insects gnawing on dinosaur bones. The beetles were only linked to the Camptosaurus, but Brit said most of the bones he studied have been chewed on, and he knows of at least four modern insects, including termites, that will eat bone.

He will be continuing his research to match those insects to known bones.

Dangerfield said the research helps scientists understand the climate of the site -- beetles like warmth and humidity -- and the evolution of the insects.

"There had to be termites back 200 million years ago," Dangerfield said.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it