Mealworm Beetle - Tenebrio molitor

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Description

Tenebrio molitor is a species of darkling beetle. Length 12 to 18 mm, width 4.5 to 6 mm. Usually dark brown to almost black but light brown specimens are not uncommon. Entire upper surface punctate and somewhat shining.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Often found around houses where it is attracted to lights.

When to see it

May to September.

Life History

The larvae are the familiar mealworms that are fed to birds.

UK Status

Widespread and previously fairly frequent in England, but possibly declining.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 22 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    02 June 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    14 July 2013
    dark example
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    12 July 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden
    14 July 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    14 July 2013
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden
    14 July 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Yellow Mealworm Beetle, Mealworm Beetle, Hardback Beetle
Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Tenebrionidae
Records on NatureSpot:
25
First record:
02/06/2011 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
14/08/2023 (Gaten, Ted)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    12 July 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    14 July 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    02 June 2011
    brown example
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    02 June 2011
  • Alan Semper
    Harby garden
    13 July 2012
  • Jo Moore
    Inside house
    19 July 2013