Bug Identifier
Tenebrio Beetle (Darkling Beetle / Mealworm Beetle)
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).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.