Mealworms are the larval form of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. The yellow mealworm beetle prefers a warmer climate and higher humidity. [1] Male mealworms release a sex pheromone to attract females to mate. [2] Tenebrio molitor has been used in biomedical research.

Tenebrio is a genus of darkling beetles. [2] [3] Adults are 12–18 mm (0.47–0.71 in) long and can live for 1–2 years. The larvae are minor pests, but they are also widely reared and sold as pet food. [3]

Darkling beetle is the common name for members of the beetle family Tenebrionidae, comprising over 20,000 species in a cosmopolitan distribution.

Perhaps the most famous darkling beetles are mealworms. The larvae of the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) are the well-known, grublike insects sold as foods in pet stores. They are sold live (usually packaged in oatmeal or bran) or dried.

There are over 20,000 different types of darkling beetles and mealworms come from the species Tenebrio molitor. A darkling beetle experiences complete metamorphosis which means that it has four distinct stages of life. The four stages are egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

A less noticeable yet dissimilar trait of the Tenebrio molitor is that it has only four tarsal segments on its hind legs, as opposed to the five that most ground beetles possess. This characteristic results in the Mealworms inability to move around as quickly as other ground beetles4.

May 27, 2024 · Two species of darkling beetle produce mealworm larvae: the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus) and the mini or dark mealworm beetle (Tenebrio obscurus Fabricius), which is less common. The mealworm beetle is native to Europe but occurs all over the world now, except in Antarctica.

Aug 13, 2019 · The family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles, is one of the largest beetle families. The family name comes from the Latin tenebrio, meaning one who loves darkness. People raise darkling beetle larvae, known as mealworms, …

Oct 13, 2024 · One of the most diverse animal families. Many large species are flightless and have fused elytra. Larvae are cylindrical and hard-bodied. found in most terrestrial habitats, e.g. under stones, decaying logs, bark, on bracket fungi, or on the ground. A few species diurnal, found in open. Many are adapted to desert conditions.