
Community identification
Tenebrio Beetle (Darkling Beetle / Mealworm Beetle)
Tenebrio molitor
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Tenebrionidae
- Size
- Typically 12 to 18 millimeters (0.47 to 0.71 inches).
Natural Habitat
Often found in dark, moist environments like grain stores, leaf litter, and under bark.
Diet & Feeding
Polyphagous scavengers; they consume decaying plant matter, cereals, flour, and organic debris.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and reclusive; the beetle is the adult stage of the common mealworm, which undergoes complete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
Generally considered a stored-product pest in homes and silos; however, they are beneficial as a major food source (as mealworms) for reptiles and birds.