what are the parts of a mealworm

The mealworm is a worm-like larva

with a hard exoskeleton. Its body is designed to burrow, eat, and store fat. There are three distinct sections which are the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Full Answer

What is the anatomy of a mealworm?

Anatomy. The mealworm is a worm-like larva with a hard exoskeleton. Its body is designed to burrow, eat, and store fat. There are three distinct sections which are the head, thorax, and abdomen. Head The head of the mealworm has the mouth and labrum, a lip-like mouth part, to aid in its voracious eating habits.

What is the nutritional composition of mealworms?

Nutrient Composition. For every 100 grams of raw mealworm larva, 206 calories and anywhere from 14 to 25 grams of protein are contained. Mealworm larva contain levels of potassium, copper, sodium, selenium, iron and zinc that rival that of beef. Mealworms contain essential linoleic acids as well.

Are mealworms considered pests?

Mealworms have generally been considered pests, because they feed on stored grains. Mealworms probably originated in the Mediterranean region, but are now present in many areas of the world as a result of human trade and colonization.

Do mealworms have a heart?

Mealworm cells need oxygen, but mealworms don't have hearts or lungs. How can they get oxygen to their cells? Although mealworms have mouths (to eat with), they do not breathe through lungs like mammals, reptiles, or birds.

Do mealworms have legs?

Although the grub looks a bit like a worm, the mealworm has six small, jointed legs. The mealworm undergoes complete metamorphosis.

Does a mealworm have eyes?

Mealworms have simple eyes that can sense changes in light brightness but cannot give the mealworm a clear picture of its surroundings. It seems mealworms mainly use their senses of touch to find their way around. They crawl with their legs and appear to sense an edge with both their legs and antennae.

Do mealworms have a spine?

Mealworm anatomy The thorax is one of the body parts of the mealworm, the others are the head and the long abdomen, made of nine segments. The last segment is pointed and called "spine". The abdomen is where the mealworm stores all the fat produced by the large quantities of food it eats.

Do mealworms have a tail?

Larvae are dark yellow with brown bands; they are up to about 35 mm long, have a segmented body, six legs (towards the front of the body) and two antennae. The pupa is white/cream with a large head and a pointed tail (it darkens as it grows).

Do mealworms have a nose?

Insects don't have noses the way mammals do but that doesn't mean they don't smell things. Insects are able to detect chemicals in the air using their antennae or other sense organs.

Do mealworms have teeth?

Mealworms do not have teeth. In general, insects have structures in their mouths used for eating called mouthparts.

Do mealworms have brains?

Worms do have brains, although they are very small and simple. It is believed by many that the sole function of the worm's brain is to direct it's body movement in response to light and that if the brain of a worm was removed, there would be hardly any noticeable changes in the worm's behavior.

Do meal worms have ears?

Forget the GPS, mealworms navigate their surroundings using a sense of touch and minimal eyesight. The poor buggers do not have ears; therefore, they can't hear sounds. Mealworms use vibrational cues in the ground to figure life out.

What is the thorax of a meal worm?

The thorax is the middle region of the body, and it bears the legs and wings – if wings are present.

What is on the thorax of a mealworm?

The thorax consists of three segments called the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. Each segment has a pair of short legs. A mealworm doesn't walk very well, but its legs and claws are perfectly suited for burrowing. The abdomen has nine segments with the last segment containing the anus and a spine.

Do mealworms feel pain?

But a team of Swedish researchers has uncovered evidence that worms do indeed feel pain, and that worms have developed a chemical system similar to that of human beings to protect themselves from it. The Swedish scientists, J. Alumets, R. Hakanson, F.

What do mealworms eat?

Many predators target the eggs, including reptiles. During the larval stage, the mealworm feeds on vegetation and dead insects and molts between each larval stage, or instar (9 to 20 instars). After the final molt it becomes a pupa. The new pupa is whitish, and it turns brown over time.

What is the name of the mealworm?

Species: T. molitor. Binomial name. Tenebrio molitor. Linnaeus, 1758. Mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor) illustrated by Des Helmore. Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

How do mealworm beetles reproduce?

Mating is a three-step process: the male chasing the female, mounting her and inserting his aedeagus, and injecting a sperm packet. Within a few days the female burrows into soft ground and lays eggs. Over a lifespan, a female will, on average, lay about 500 eggs.

How many calories are in a mealworm?

For every 100 grams of raw mealworm larvae, 206 calories and anywhere from 14 to 25 grams of protein are contained. Mealworm larvae contain levels of potassium, copper, sodium, selenium, iron and zinc that rival that of beef. Mealworms contain essential linoleic acids as well.

Where did mealworms originate?

Mealworms have generally been considered pests, because they feed on stored grains. Mealworms probably originated in the Mediterranean region , but are now present in many areas of the world as a result of human trade and colonization. The oldest archaeological records of mealworms can be traced to Bronze Age Turkey.

Do mealworms release sex pheromones?

A sex pheromone released by male mealworms has been identified. Inbreeding reduces the attractiveness of sexual pheromone signaling by male mealworms. Females are more attracted to the odors produced by outbred males than the odors produced by inbred males.

Do mealworms eat styrofoam?

Additionally, no difference was found between mealworms fed only styrofoam and mealworms fed conventional foods, during the one-month duration of the experiment. Microorganisms inside the mealworm's gut are responsible for degrading the polystyrene, with mealworms given the antibiotic gentamicin showing no signs of degradation.

Incredible mealworms

Why are we writing about mealworms? They are exciting creatures with surprising features and healthy and delicious food for humans! By reading this article, you learn cool things about mealworms. But remember, the best way to learn how GOOD mealworms taste is to buy some products directly from Party Bugs Shop!

1 The basic facts about mealworms

Mealworms are not an independent species or even worms: the mealworm is the second stage in the lifecycle of a beetle. Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

2 Farming Mealworms

We are not writing an instructions book on mealworm breeding and farming. There are already plenty of instructional pages on the internet about breeding mealworms. Instead, we tell you some less known but interesting facts about the outputs of mealworm breeding.

3 Common Questions and Answers about Mealworms

No. The mealworm (tenebrio molitor) and the superworm (zophobas morio) are different species. The superworm is around 5x larger than a mealworm when you consider girth and length. Most of the size difference comes from the superworm having more chitin than mealworms do. This gives them less meat but a higher calcium, fiber, and fat concentration.

Summary

Mealworms are also high in protein, so you know they will do a lot of good for you. Often used as a nutrient booster, they give you the same amount of protein as beef but with no environmental effects.

What is a mealworm?

Mealworms are the brown worm-like larvae of darkling beetles. They are the second of four stages of life and exist to eat and grow until they have enough energy stored to begin transformation into pupae and then beetles. Mealworms can be found throughout most of the world where they prefer warm, dark, and damp places like under decaying logs ...

Where do mealworms live?

Mealworms can be found throughout most of the world where they prefer warm, dark, and damp places like under decaying logs and leaves. They are designed for burrowing and eating and will feast upon grains, vegetation, spoiled food, and many other types of fresh or decaying organic matter.

How long can mealworms be kept in the refrigerator?

Live mealworms can be stored in a refrigerator for months. All you have to do is take them out of the refrigerator about once a week and give them some food for a few hours. They are also easy to raise and reproduce in large numbers. A female darkling beetle can lay hundreds of eggs.

Can mealworms get into pet food?

Mealworms can get into and ruin stored flour, pet food, mill feed, cereal and other dry goods. Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for bearded dragons, bluebirds, chickens, fish, and many other animals. They are high in protein and fat and are easy to maintain. They are available live or pre-killed and dried.

Can darkling beetles lay eggs?

A female darkling beetle can lay hundreds of eggs. Dried mealworms are worms that have been freeze dried or slowly oven dried. Dried worms usually float which can make them a great treat for ducks and fish. They retain much of their nutrients, last longer than live worms, and are easily stored until needed.

What are the characteristics of a mealworm?

Other Characteristics. Mealworms have evenly divided grooves resembling body segments running along the whole length of their abdomen. Mealworms may look darker near the ends of their abdomen and head, and near each of their grooves or segments. Mealworm larva have hardened heads for burrowing underground.

What do mealworms eat?

They're particularly fond of dead leaves, foliage, animal waste, and moldy or moist grain products. They'll frequently infest pantry items like oatmeal, flour, cereal, oats, and other dry goods.

How do you know if a mealworm is infested?

Signs of Infestation. Mealworms leave behind bite marks and small holes in packaging for stored dry goods. You may find small signs of damage or tampering on cardboard or other food packaging, particularly in dry storage. When mealworms eat through packaging, they often produce a distinctive dry, paper-like waste.

What is the scientific order of mealworms?

Scientific Order: Coleoptera. Common Species: Tenebrio molitor, or Yellow Mealworm, the larval form of the mealworm beetle, a species of darkling beetle.

How to get rid of mealworms in basement?

Your first step toward preventing mealworm infestations is removing potential shelters or food sources. Remove decaying material such as fallen leaves, compost, or old vegetation away from the perimeter of your building. Next, go through each cabinet, closet, and storage area, especially where you keep food and other dry goods. The ideal mealworm infestation site is dark, humid, and warm, so look for the pest especially carefully in basements, warehouses, attics, and pantries.

Where to find mealworms?

The ideal mealworm infestation site is dark, humid, and warm, so look for the pest especially carefully in basements, warehouses, attics, and pantries. Remove any mealworms you find using a vacuum, and throw out the food they infested immediately. If you find mealworms, check nearby food sources especially carefully as well.

How many stages of the life cycle of a mealworm beetle?

Reproduction and Life Cycle. Mealworm beetles go through four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. How long each developmental process takes is dependent on the temperature of the environment and how readily available food is.

What is a mealworm?

Mealworms are the early life stage of darkling beetles, and are often used as food for pets such as reptiles, spiders, birds, and even rodents. Aside from that, they also act as an important part of the natural ecosystem, consuming decaying matter and keeping things clean. If you want to keep and maintain healthy mealworms, ...

How to care for mealworms?

To care for mealworms, keep them in a glass, metal, or plastic container that's lined with food like grain cereal, oatmeal, or cornmeal. Try to keep your mealworms somewhere that's at least room temperature, but aim for around 80 degree s if you can.

How to keep mealworms in separate containers?

If you plan to keep your mealworms and let them develop into pupae and eventually beetles, make sure to take the pupae out of the container. The beetles and the worms will both eat these if they are left in the container.

How to keep mealworms out of garage?

If you live someplace where the temperature and climate are on the more mild side, you could try keeping the mealworms out in a garage.

How long do mealworms live?

If you don’t plan to keep the mealworms into the next stages of life, keep in mind that they usually remain at the larval (worm) phase for 8-10 weeks. If you purchase the worms and they are already fully grown, you may have less time than that.

What is the best way to keep mealworms out of a container?

Containers with smooth, slippery sides and surfaces are best for keeping the mealworms inside. Avoid containers made of things like cardboard, or any containers lined in fabric. These surfaces will be easy for the worms to latch onto and climb up, which could allow them to get out.

Can you refrigerate worm larvae?

On the other hand, if you have a large amount of larvae and want to use them as food for pets, you can refrigerate the larvae in a container with holes in the lid and they will last longer. But, temperatures lower than 40 degrees (F) may cause the worms to die. Expert Q&A.

Why do mealworms rot?

Mealworms need a softer wetter food but if you leave it in there too long because you gave them too much, It will start to rot and create too many liquids for the mealworms to survive. It could also poison the soil depending on where and what you’ve been deeding them.

Can you breed mealworms?

There are several reasons someone might want to breed mealworms, But the most common one is for pet food. Lizards, Birds, Fish, chicken etc love meal worms. They make a great protein rich snack for your pets and are super easy to farm at home. But what do mealworms eat? Well if your looking to start farming them at home for your own use, You best find out bellow!

Can mealworms be vegetarian?

They are also partial to fruits, vegetables, and flour. Overall mealworms are considered vegetarians, but on occasion have been known to turn cannibalistic if their environment is not optimal. So, to recap:

Overview

Relationship with humans

Reproduction

See also

Gallery

External links