How long is the mealworm?

Answer 1

Mealworm beetles (darkling beetles) are prolific breeders. Mating is a three step process: 1) The male gives chase until the female relents. 2) The male then mounts the female and curls his genitals (aedagus) underneath himself and inserting it into her genital tract. 3) The male then injects the female with a packet of semen. Dependent on incubation temperature, just days after mating the female will burrow into soft ground and lay between 70 and 100 eggs. After 1 week the eggs hatch and larvae emerges. During the larva stage, mealworms will undergo repeated molting between bouts of eating various vegetation or dead insects. This takes place 10-14 times (instars) as it gets too big for its exoskeleton. During its last molt, it loses its carapace before curling into its pupal form. The mealworm remains in its pupal stage from 6 days to around 30 days (dependent on incubation temperature and overwintering). The pupa starts a creamy white colour and changes slowly to brown during its pupation stage. The newly emerged mealworm beetle will sit still as its wings unfold and dry. It will appear a creamy color, stop moving, and will slowly brown over a period of 2-7 days. Once the mealworm beetle has browned they will become sexually mature and begin to look for a mate. * Incubation: 10-11 days at 20°C; 4-6 days at 30°C * Larval period: 90-114 days (10-14 larval instars). * Pupal period: 30 days at 15°C; 9 days at 25°C; 6 days at 35°C. * Adult Stage 5 - 10 days * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealworm

Answer 2

4cm or a adult is about 1 inch.

Answer 3

69 years