MEALWORMS!!
Mealworms are insects that are usually found wherever there is flour or grain, like in bakeries or mills. It is a perfect specimen to showcase the stages of growth. The stages are:
1. Egg - small, white, oval shaped - about 1 millimeter long. Hatches in about one week (we did not see the egg stage with our specimens).
2. Larva - brown, elongated body. stage lasts 2-3 weeks. MOLTING occurs at this stage.
3. Pupa - off white color, the pupa is very still during this time as it changes to become a beetle. This stage lasts 1-3 weeks.
4. Adult - when it comes out of the pupa, it is white, but gradually changes to black. We had one student that had the mealworm change to a beetle within the fist day (it was in the pupa stage when he took it for his "pet!" It has wings but cannot fly. It can hop! The adult only lives about a few months.. The female can lay up to 500 eggs before it dies, and then the life cycle starts all over again!
And, yes! Students will get the opportunity to bring home their Darkling Beetles when they change to adults!! Very Cool!
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