bacon beetle

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Bacon \Ba"con\, n. [OF. bacon, fr. OHG. bacho, bahho, flitch of
   bacon, ham; akin to E. back. Cf. Back the back side.]
   The back and sides of a pig salted and smoked; formerly, the
   flesh of a pig salted or fresh.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Bacon beetle} (Zool.), a beetle ({Dermestes lardarius})
      which, especially in the larval state, feeds upon bacon,
      woolens, furs, etc. See {Dermestes}.

   {To save one's bacon}, to save one's self or property from
      harm or loss. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster] Bacon

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Dermestes \Der*mes"tes\, n. [NL., from Gr. dermhsth`s; de`rma
   skin + root of ? to eat.] (Zool.)
   A genus of coleopterous insects, the larv[ae] of which feed
   animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats,
   skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is
   {Dermestes lardarius}, known as the {bacon beetle}.
   [1913 Webster]