The Life Cycle of Mealworms

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The Life Cycle of Mealworms

• Created by Mrs. Fortunes Class
• November 2007

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An adult beetle lays eggs in any type of grain
like flour, cereal or rice.
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm
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The mealworm hatches out of the egg. Its only
job is to eat, molt and grow until it changes
into.
It has 13 body segments with 6 leg pairs and 2
pretend legs at one end.
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm
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a pupa. The pupa must rest and change.
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm
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The pupa turns into an adult Tenebrio beetle who
is light tan. The beetle gets darker as it gets
older. It can run fast, but not fly well. There
are three body parts head, thorax and abdomen
with 6 jointed legs.
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm
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This whole change process is called Metamorphosis.
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageMealworms_in_pl
astic_container_of_bran.jpg
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm
Stage Time (weeks)
Egg 1-4
Larva 10
Pupa 1-3
Adult (beetle) 4-16
http//www.feederinsects.co.za/feederinsects_mealw
orms.htm