The Stages of Mealworms
Other People Are Reading
-
Mealworms and the First Stage
-
Mealworms develop very easily and are often raised for fun or experiments. People who keep birds, lizards, or other insect-loving creatures raise mealworms to have a cheap and reliable supply of food that most animals love. Science labs and classes studying the stages of insect growth prefer mealworms because the stages of their development are quick and easy to observe. The mealworm itself is only one stage of the insect's development, but is one of the most noticeable and so the beetle derives its name from its larval form.
The first stage of the mealworm's development is the egg. Eggs are generally laid in a dry and protected place, then covered with earth. They are white in color, but also sticky and will generally pick up surrounding dust and turn darker in color. In warm and healthy conditions, these eggs will hatch into larva in about a week, but in harsher conditions it can take multiple weeks.
Larva Stage
-
The larva form of the mealworm resembles a millipede, usually a light brown or creamy color. These small worms prefer to dig underground and burrow into the soil. This is also often the stage where mealworms are fed to hungry birds or animals, when their flesh is soft and they are easy to catch. As a worm, the mealworms eat as much as they can, storing energy for the next stage of their metamorphosis. In the wild, the insects devour nearly anything they can eat, making feeding them an easy task for those raising colonies. Fresh leaves, especially from vegetables like lettuce or kale, are a favorite food, as are other types of vegetable matter, including fresh potatoes, apples and even bread.
-
Third and Fourth Stages
-
Throughout this time, the worms will shed their exoskeletons as they grow, leaving behind empty shells and gradually assuming a darker, more golden color. Eventually, the larva will come up to the surface, curl up, and remain motionless. This is a sign they are ready to develop again and move to the next stage, their pupa form. When they first emerge, these pupae still look a lot like the larva stage, with pale shells and underdeveloped legs. The pupa stage generally lasts only two weeks at the most, during which the insects crawl around, eating little and developing their more complex bodies. After a time, their skin changes from its pale coloring into a darker brown.
The last stage, when the insect reaches adulthood, is easily apparent. The pupae develop a thick, black exoskeleton with well-defined plates, legs and antennae. This stage lasts about eight to 12 weeks, after which the insects die. They are generally able to lay eggs within one to two weeks after reaching adulthood. As beetles, mealworms have the same diet as in their larva form and are still easy to feed.
-
