YELLOW MEALWORM BEETLE

YELLOW MEALWORM
There are several types of mealworms, the most common are the Yellow and Dark. The larvae are the main problem--they feed upon grains mainly at night. Larvae are about an inch in size, and as adult beetles they are only a half-inch long. With their size, they can easily be screened out of grain products, so they are not considered serious pests. However, if an infestation is allowed to remain, they contaminate products by their excretions.
The larvae are yellow and brown, but as adults they become dark brown or black beetles. The adult beetles are good fliers, and are attracted to lights.

Life Cycle
Females produce 250-300 eggs, covered with a sticky substance that allows them to attach to the grain products that they infest. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch. Larvae start out white, but turn more yellow and grow rapidly as they feed over the next three months. They overwinter in this form, and then pupate for two weeks in the spring or early summer and emerge as the adult beetle. There is one generation each year.