Tenebrio obscurus

Tenebrio obscurus, or the dark mealworm beetle, is a species of darkling beetle.[1][2] The larvae, when used as feeder insects for reptile and amphibian pets, are known as mini mealworm. These insects should not be confused with younger mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) or with the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), which is also occasionally used as a reptile feeder insect.

Tenebrio obscurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Tenebrio
Species:
T. obscurus
Binomial name
Tenebrio obscurus
Fabricius, 1792

Mini mealworms would probably remain largely unknown, if not for the reptile pet industry. In the search for easy to raise insects to use as food for captive reptiles and amphibians, mini mealworms have recently attracted interest as an ideal food item for smaller species.

The larvae resemble very small mealworms, about ½ to ¾ inch (12 to 19 mm) in size. Once they reach adult size, the larvae pupate, and later emerge as small, black beetles.

References
  1. "Tenebrio obscurus Fabricius, 1792". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  2. Rees, David (21 July 2004). Insects of Stored Products. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 112–113. ISBN 978-0-643-10263-7.
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