What Kind of Beetle Does a Grub Worm Turn Into? Darkling beetles vary quite a bit in size and appearance. They have a large pronotum (the section between head and thorax). PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING, University of Arizona Center for Insect Science: Darkling Beetle/Mealworm Information, San Diego Natural History Museum: Darkling Beetle. The term "darkling beetle" describes the thousands of different insect species that belong to the genus Eleodes. There are approximately 100 Families of beetles in the United States. These beetles are common throughout North America and fill several roles in ecosystems across the continent. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Aside from that, they also act as an important part of the natural ecosystem, consuming decaying matter and keeping things clean. Same substance changes the color of the body into brown. The darkling beetle goes by many other names, including the lesser meal worm, litter beetle, shining black wheat beetle and black fungus beetle. Adult darkling beetles vary greatly in size and shape: from 2 to 35 mm ( 1/12 to about 1 1/2 inches) and from flat to cylindrical. A good number of beetles stridulate, particularly when handled by humans. Name refers to the fact that these beetles usually inhabit dark places and hide under the rocks and leaf litter. Darkling beetles are also used as ideal source of food for the laboratory animals such as insectivorous mammals. In fact, they have been clocked at around 4 km/hr (2.5 mph), which just might make them the fastest beetle on the planet. If you have taken a closer look at your mealworms, you will … Adult beetles can live for over 10 years, provided they are lucky enough to avoid predators for that long. One female can lay up to 2000 eggs in a year. Darkling beetle is the common name of the large family of beetles Tenebrionidae. Darkling beetles are ground dwellers that are active during the day and night. They are general feeders and scavengers, and are ground-dwelling nocturnal beetles. They are a family of beetles found worldwide, estimated at more than 20,000 species. While inhabiting poultry barns, the darkling beetle poses vario… They seek shaded and protected areas with a good supply of plant material to feed on. Some species of darkling beetles can complete their entire life cycle in 3 to 4 months, while other species can survive until the age of 10 years. Diet and Habitat. They also have multi-segmented antennae. This renders them flightless throughout their entire life. Alphitobius diaperinus, also known as the darkling beetle, is one of the most common pests found in poultry barns. Interesting Darkling beetles Facts: Darkling beetles can reach 1 to 1.5 inches in length. The first pair of wings are leathery or hard and are not used in flight. When they're disturbed, they stand on their heads and run around randomly, earning them the name \"clown beetles.\" But because they also secrete a foul-smelling odor, they're also called -- you guessed it: \"stink beetles.\" It then retreats under the ground and enters pupa (dormant) stage. Darkling beetles feed on decaying plant and animal matter. Many of the beetles have black elytra. Before treatment, you must first identify your beetles as Darkling Beetles. Darkling beetles are one of the most common members of the beetle community in the Columbia Basin. Mealworms have legs. Distribution. Adult female beetles deposit eggs in the surface of the ground. Some species eat fungi, others feed on living crops or decaying plant matter. Cool Facts About The Darkling Beetle Another name for this abundant and divers insect is the Darkening Beetle – sure it sounds the same but it is different. fact lexicon with terms going straight to the point. 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