Life Cycles

Molt
Pupa
Abdomen
Adult
Beetle
Culture
Darkling beetle
Dead
Dropping
Insect
Larva
Life cycle
Living
Mealworm
Segment
Stage
Thorax

 They are not worms
 They are larva.
 They become darkling beetles.

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Mealworms have six stubby legs.
Their waste is called frass
They have 13 segments:
 1 head
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3 thoracic segments
9 abdominal segments

 1 head
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 3 thoracic segments
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 9 abdominal segments
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 13 segments in all

 Mealworms will molt 5 times in about 2 months
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The final time they pupate
Pupae don’t eat
 They only twitch when it is disturbed
 2 or 3 weeks later the cuticle splits near the head and …

A Darkling Beetle will emerge
 Will start out brown or tan
 As it matures it darkens until it is black
 They are true bugs
 They have jointed legs (Arthropoda)
 They have an exoskeleton

 C:\Documents and
Settings\student.EGK12\Desktop\Complete_M etamorphosis.asf

What is the relationship of plants and insects
 Mealworms and darkling beetles are rarely seen in the wild.
Mealworms are more likely to be found in barns, grain storage facilities and food preparation areas.
 Mealworms are bought and sold as bait or food for pets

Can insects be harmful to people or helpful?
 What do you think about the mealworm? Is it helpful or harmful to people?

What can people learn from insects?

 FOSS (Full Option Science System)
 AIMS (Activities Integrating Math and
Science) Critters
 www.unitedstreaming.com
 www.office.micorsoft.com
 www.fotosearch.com/its5223/itf13905/

The wax worm is the larva of the greater wax moth. The adult moth lays its eggs in beehives, where the growing larvae feed on honey and wax. A small beehive can be overrun by the larvae and the hive can be destroyed.

Wax worm larvae are white to tan, plump, segmented, soft and rather active.
The larva has 13 segments
Head
Three thoracic
Nine abdominal
Six legs
4 pairs of prolegs equipped with claspers for holding on to surfaces
It has spiracles (stiff hairs) on both sides of its body
Spinnerits where silk is extruded through.

Interesting words about Wax worms
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Abdomen
Adult
Bristles
Claspers
Cocoon
Dead
Head
Insect
Larva
Moth
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Proleg
Pupa
Segment
Silk
Stage thorax