Insects in the Mealworm Family
Mealworms are actually the larva stage of the mealworm beetle, a species of darkling beetles. Its scientific name is Tenebrio molitor and it belongs to the family tenebrionidae, of which more than 20,000 species are part of worldwide. The members of this family all have similar stages, beginning with an egg, which hatches into the worm-like larva stage before finally metamorphosing into a beetle.
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Superworm
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Zophobas morio is more commonly referred to as the superworm. They closely resemble a mealworm, except that they are bigger. The worm larvae grow up to 2 inches long and the lifespan of the whole insect is just over a year, from egg to beetle. The Zophobas morio is native to Central and South America. Like the mealworm, the larva of this species is used to feed reptiles that require larger worms. While there are also giant mealworms for this purpose, Zophobas morio is naturally large with no growth hormones.
Red Flour Beetle
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The red flour beetle is of Indo-Australian origin, but has found its way to other areas of the world, including the southern United States. They are pests due to the fact that they attack stores of flour, grains, beans, spices, dried pet food, nuts, seeds and similar foodstuffs. The beetles grow to be about one-eighth of an inch long and have a reddish-brown coloring. While these beetles do not bite or sting, they can cause allergic reactions in some people.
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Confused Flour Beetle
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Similar to the red flour beetle is the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum. They are also reddish-brown in color and grow to about one-eighth of an inch long. They eat gran, dry food in powder form, nuts and seeds, and can make their way into homes after infesting larger stores. Unlike the red flour beetle, these beetles cannot fly. They are also the most abundant and injurious flour mill pests in the United States. Flour that has been affected by confused flour beetles will have a sharp odor and moldy flavor.
Madagascar Beetle
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The Madagascar beetle is in the subfamily opatrinae is believed to have originated in Madagascar. It was found in the southern United States -- Alabama and Florida -- in the early 1900s. The body is wider than other species in the family and is brown with light-colored speckling. Adults are attracted to light and are found in sandy areas specifically between March and November.
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References
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