Mealworm Beetle

Mealworms are the larval form of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Scientific Name: Tenebrio molitor Range: Cosmopolitan — native to Europe, now worldwide Size: Adult 12–18 mm; larvae up to 25 mm Status: Common ID Notes: Adult dark brown to black, dull, elongated. Larvae (mealworms) are golden-yellow, segmented, with three pairs of small legs near the head. Behavior / Notes: Larvae widely raised as feeders for reptiles, fish, birds, and increasingly as human food. Some can digest polystyrene plastic.