Mealworms are part of the darkling beetles family, found worldwide and composed of a number of species between 12,000 and 15,000. The adult form is often black or dark brown-red color with hardened front wings, wide rounded had and a lenght of 13-16 mm. The larva, which is yellow to pale reddish brown in color, grow up to 32 mm in length. Mealworms in the wild are considered pest, they attack graineries and stored foods, eating grain, bran and cerials causing damages. On the other side, they are commonly bred as food for birds, rodents, frogs, and lizards. Darkling beetles use as feeders include superworms and the lesser-known mini mealworms.

Raising mealworms from larva through adulthood is an excellent and rewarding biology project for lower school educators. Their entire life cycle in proper conditions can take approximately 3 to 6 months, in some cases, with lower temperatures might take up to a full year. Infact in nature mealworm beetles lay white bean-shaped eggs, larvae live through the winter, pupae in the spring, and emerge as adult beetles during the summer.

Eventouh mealworms are easly available in pet stores and online, breeding them on your own themThe whole process of raising mealworms is explained in the “Raising Mealworms” article.