Mealworms eat stored grains, such as flour, cornmeal, and
cereals, and eat all types of plant growth, including young
seedlings
1.2.1 Life Cycle
Egg
From the eggs, diminutive mealworms hatch within a span of 4–19
days after they are laid. The white, bean-structured eggs are around
2 mm in length.
Larva
During the larval stage, the mealworm is yellowish and characterized by joined legs. It is chiefly active during night and rarely
spotted in the day. At larval stage, the mealworm consumes incredible quantities and develops, detaching its exoskeleton—a practice
identified as molting—as much as 20 times even prior to stepping
into the pupal stage following the final molt. The larvae are dark
yellow with brown rings around them. They mature to nearly
35 mm in length and have 13 segments with six adjacent legs in
their bodies.
Pupa
The mealworm endures in the pupal stage for 2–3 weeks or as long
as 9 months especially if it enters pupa in the fall so as to spend the
winter at this stage of the cycle. During pupal stage, the mealworm
is sedentary and does not feed. The pupa is whitish with a large head
and pointed tail.
Adult
When the adult darkening beetle emerges from the pupa stage, it is
white. It is eventually darkened to brown, and then almost black. It
has a life expectancy of a few months from the start of the pupa.
In its adult shape, the beetle has a stiff exoskeleton, six jointed
legs, two antennae and compound eyes. Its body is divided into
three parts—head, thorax, and abdomen. Its length can vary from
12 to 25 mm (Fig. 2).
1.2.2 Rearing
Materials Required
l
Plastic trays.
l
Artificial diet.
l
Eggs.
l
Fruits.
l
Vegetables.
Preparation of Diet
l
Wheat bran: 47.5%.
l
Brewer’s yeast: 2.5%.
l
Milled oat flakes: 50%.
Host Insect Rearing
51
cereals, and eat all types of plant growth, including young
seedlings
1.2.1 Life Cycle
Egg
From the eggs, diminutive mealworms hatch within a span of 4–19
days after they are laid. The white, bean-structured eggs are around
2 mm in length.
Larva
During the larval stage, the mealworm is yellowish and characterized by joined legs. It is chiefly active during night and rarely
spotted in the day. At larval stage, the mealworm consumes incredible quantities and develops, detaching its exoskeleton—a practice
identified as molting—as much as 20 times even prior to stepping
into the pupal stage following the final molt. The larvae are dark
yellow with brown rings around them. They mature to nearly
35 mm in length and have 13 segments with six adjacent legs in
their bodies.
Pupa
The mealworm endures in the pupal stage for 2–3 weeks or as long
as 9 months especially if it enters pupa in the fall so as to spend the
winter at this stage of the cycle. During pupal stage, the mealworm
is sedentary and does not feed. The pupa is whitish with a large head
and pointed tail.
Adult
When the adult darkening beetle emerges from the pupa stage, it is
white. It is eventually darkened to brown, and then almost black. It
has a life expectancy of a few months from the start of the pupa.
In its adult shape, the beetle has a stiff exoskeleton, six jointed
legs, two antennae and compound eyes. Its body is divided into
three parts—head, thorax, and abdomen. Its length can vary from
12 to 25 mm (Fig. 2).
1.2.2 Rearing
Materials Required
l
Plastic trays.
l
Artificial diet.
l
Eggs.
l
Fruits.
l
Vegetables.
Preparation of Diet
l
Wheat bran: 47.5%.
l
Brewer’s yeast: 2.5%.
l
Milled oat flakes: 50%.
Host Insect Rearing
51