Mealworm
Mealworms are not worms, they are feeder insects, used to feed poultry, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish. They provide protein in pet food for dogs, cats, and livestock, and some people even eat them.
In Asia, mealworms are a common street food. Mealworms are used by anglers to attract Bluegills, Bass, and Catfish, especially in murky water, where their bright yellow color stands out. I've also heard they are excellent for ice fishing.
Feeder insect and more!
Basic Care
Mealworms are easy to care for and can thrive in various habitats. I've seen people raise them in food storage containers, aquariums, plastic coolers, drawer units, and wood boxes.
If you want to separate life stages you can use drawer units or multiple boxes.
Mealworms eat their bedding, a substrate like wheat bran or oats, and get moisture from veggies, especially root vegetables.
Ensure fresh veggies are supplied as a moisture source. Beetles are prone to cannibalism when they don't have enough moisture. They will kill each other, or suck moisture out of their eggs if you don't supply enough moisture.
Mealworm Life Cycle
Mealworm Life Cycle
Mealworms are holometabolic insects, meaning they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor) is also known as a Darkling Beetle in its adult stage. Besides being used as feeder insects and bait, mealworms are great to raise as a school project. (Homeschool mom here!)
Egg Stage:
Darkling beetles lay many tiny eggs. Although you can't see them clearly with your naked eye they are usually white or cream-colored and you will be able to see clusters of them stuck to the bottom of their container, under the substrate, and sometimes on any cardboard you leave in their container.
Larval Stage:
Once the eggs hatch, they give rise to mealworm larvae. The larval stage is the longest phase in the mealworm life cycle, lasting anywhere from 8-10 weeks depending on environmental conditions like temperature and food availability.
During this stage, mealworm larvae are voracious eaters, consuming a variety of organic matter, including grains, cereals, and even dead insects. They grow rapidly, shedding their exoskeletons several times to accommodate their increasing size. These stages between molts are known as instars, with mealworms typically going through several instars before reaching maturity.
Pupal Stage:
As mealworm larvae near the end of their growth phase, they enter the pupal stage. During pupation, the larva transforms into an adult beetle inside a protective casing called a pupa. The pupa is white and wiggly the first day or two, but gradually darkens as the adult beetle develops inside. This transformation usually takes around one to three weeks.
Adult Stage:
Finally, the mature mealworm emerges from the pupal casing as a Darkling beetle. Unlike the larvae, which are prolific eaters, adult beetles primarily focus on mating and reproducing. They live for 8-12 weeks during this stage and each female will lay up to 500 eggs. The majority of the beetles' eggs will be laid by week 6.
Ecological Importance:
Mealworms are being studied for their ability to consume styrofoam! Imagine if one of the world's largest environmental problems could be reduced by the humble mealworm. Initial tests show that the frass (waste) they produce has no signs of toxins after eating styrofoam and would still be a viable garden product.
Conclusion:
The life cycle of mealworms is a testament to nature's efficiency and diversity. From humble beginnings as a tiny egg to their usefulness as larvae, protein-packed pupae, and finally the adult beetle that can lay 500 more eggs, mealworms exemplify God's handiwork in the smallest of creatures