Hobbies And Interests
Legs
A mealworms six legs are all located towards the front half of the body. These legs are used for walking on flat surfaces.
Exoskeleton
Mealworms are invertebrates, so instead of having a skeleton on the inside of the body, they have an exoskeleton on the outside that gives the body structure. As the mealworm eats and grows, it will outgrow its exoskeleton and then shed or "molt".
Coloration
Mealworms are a light brown or tan color. This coloration helps them to camouflage or blend in with the flours and oats that they feed on and live in.
Size
When a mealworm initially hatches from the egg, it is very small - only a couple millimeters in length. As the mealworm eats, grows, and molts its exoskeleton, it can grow up to two centimeters.
As an adult
A mealworm metamorphasizes into its adult form, which is a darkling beetle. The darkling beetle is dark brown, has six legs, and is only about 1 centimeter in length.