Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Yellow mealworm

Yellow mealworm

Tenebrio molitor

A species of Mealworm beetles, Also known as Mealworm, Yellow mealworm beetle, Common mealworm

The larval form of the yellow mealworm has been used as a high-nutrition food source, particularly in Asia. They reproduce very quickly, with the females producing an average of 500 eggs over their lifespan. Because of this and their ease of handling, they are often used in biological scientific research studies. They are also able to break down polystyrene foam into organic matter.

General Info About Yellow mealworm
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Yellow mealworm
Colors
Brown
Habitat
leaf-litter; rock; log
Adult Food Sources
Leaves, fungi, decaying organic matter, plant material, small dead insects
Larva Food Source
Grains, flour, vegetable matter, dead insects, dried materials
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Borer
The Yellow mealworm can bore into the wood and may damage its structure, or even harm the health of trees. Stay alert if you frequently observe it in your house.
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Yellow mealworm feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Yellow mealworm
It probably originated in the Mediterranean region, but are now present in many areas of the world as a result of human trade and colonization.
Rectangle
Distribution Area of Yellow mealworm
Canada, United States
Rectangle
Appearance of Yellow mealworm
Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Larvae typically measure about 2.5 cm or more, whereas adults are generally between 1.3 cm and 1.8 cm in length.
ImageImageImageImageImage

How to Identify Yellow mealworm?

Rectangle
Life Cycle of Yellow mealworm
Egg The egg stage is the initial phase where yellow mealworm develops within a protective casing. Eggs are laid by females, usually in a concealed location and often in clusters. The size is tiny, and the color can vary but typically blends with the environment to avoid predation.
Larva In this stage, yellow mealworm resembles a worm, with a soft, elongated body and a voracious appetite. Color and size change significantly as it molts multiple times, growing larger. This stage is solely dedicated to feeding and growth, with no reproductive structures.
Pupal During the pupal stage, yellow mealworm undergoes transformation within a protective cocoon. The body shape changes drastically as the larval form reconstructs into the adult form. This stage is immobile, and the color may be cryptic for camouflage.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult yellow mealworm’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction. Coloration may serve to attract mates or deter predators.
Rectangle
Adult Size of Yellow mealworm
1.3 - 1.6 cm
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Yellow mealworm
Yellow mealworm larvae can survive for weeks without food or water, thanks to an efficient water recycling system within their bodies.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Yellow mealworm
Tips for Finding Yellow mealworm
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Yellow mealworm
Rotting and Decaying Matter
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Yellow mealworm
Grain storage facilities, Mills, Farms, Animal rearing facilities, Urban and Suburban Areas
Are Yellow mealworm harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Harmful Effects of Yellow mealworm
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Stored Produce Pest

Yellow mealworm, at both larva and adult stages, can directly damage a variety of dry storage items. As larvae, they consume and contaminate food with their frass. Adults can also infest products, but larvae are the primary concern, causing mild to severe damage depending on infestation levels. They affect grains and packaged foods, necessitating regular monitoring and potential product loss, leading to economic impacts. Their voracious feeding habits accelerate spoilage, which complicates storage management.

Rectangle
Hurt Plant

Larval stages of yellow mealworm create a significant impact on host plants regardless of type by chewing plant tissues, including leaves and seeds, predominantly for feeding. Infestations can range from mild to severe, depending on yellow mealworm presence.

More Effects of Yellow mealworm

Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Yellow mealworm
Coelocnemis magna
Coelocnemis magna

The stink beetle is aptly named since the insect emits a foul odor when touched or crushed, limiting its number of natural predators. While the stink beetle is a garden pest with a voracious appetite for plant leaves, the insects also have spiritual meanings that include protection, strength, and perseverance.

Read More
Arrow
Woolly darkling beetle
Woolly darkling beetle

Eleodes osculans, the wooly darkling beetle, is a common nocturnal insect in coastal southern California. As a stink beetle of genus Eleodes, its easily observed defensive posture is to raise its hind end and secrete an unpleasant odor. This is one of the few Tenebrionid beetle species in North America to be covered in visible fuzz. E. osculans is the only known darkling beetle species which has brightly colored reddish brown hair covering most of its black exoskeleton.

Read More
Arrow
Armored Stink Beetle
Armored Stink Beetle

Eleodes armata, the armored stink beetle, is a species of desert stink beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. It is found in the western United States and Mexico.

Read More
Arrow
Obscure darkling beetle
Obscure darkling beetle

The obscure darkling beetle is distinguished by its behavior of standing on its head when threatened, a unique defensive strategy it employs possibly to deter predators with the appearance of greater size or to emit defensive secretions. Inhabiting arid environments, these creatures exhibit remarkable adaptations to conserve water, including a waxy layer on their exoskeleton to minimize moisture loss and behavior that reduces activity during the heat of the day.

Read More
Arrow
Triple-ridged darkling beetle
Triple-ridged darkling beetle

Triple-ridged darkling beetle is a species of desert stink beetle in the family Tenebrionidae.

Read More
Arrow
Eleodes acuticauda
Eleodes acuticauda

Eleodes acuticauda is a species of desert stink beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, found in southwestern North America.

Read More
Arrow
Red-Backed Darkling Beetle
Red-Backed Darkling Beetle

Eleodes suturalis, or the red-backed darkling beetle, is a species of darkling beetle in the genus Eleodes found in the United States. Their range extends from South Dakota to Texas and are not known to exist west of the Rocky Mountains. They can be easily identified by the distinctive red stripe which goes down the center of their flat elytra.

Read More
Arrow
Rough-lipped darkling beetle
Rough-lipped darkling beetle

In the arid environments where rough-lipped darkling beetle thrives, this robust creature plays a vital role in nutrient recycling. As a detritivore, its diet consists mainly of decomposing plant material, catalyzing the process of decomposition. This species is distinguished by its defensive posture, which involves standing on its head and secreting a foul-smelling substance to deter predators, a behavior known as thanatosis. With a nocturnal lifestyle, it avoids predators and extreme daytime temperatures, ensuring its survival in challenging habitats.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow