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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Darkling Beetles (Tenebrionidae) » Tenebrioninae » Alphitobiini » Alphitobius » Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus)

Species Alphitobius diaperinus - Lesser Mealworm

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

? flower beetle - Alphitobius diaperinus

Alphitobius diaperinus pupa - Alphitobius diaperinus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)

Superfamily Tenebrionoidea

Family Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)

Subfamily Tenebrioninae

Tribe Alphitobiini

Genus Alphitobius

Species diaperinus (Lesser Mealworm)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Cryptops ulomoides Solier 1851

Explanation of Names

Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer 1797)

Size

Adult: 5.8-6.3 mm(1)

Pupae measure approx. 7mm, about half the size of Tenebrio molitor (second image, top):

Prepupal larval comparison of Alphitobius diaperinus vs. Tenebrio molitor (left):

Range

of tropical (likely, Afrotropical) origin(2), nearly cosmopolitan(3); introduced from Europe before 1910(4)

Habitat

damp and moldy flour, meal, grain products(3); poultry houses (breeds in deep litter and in droppings)(2)

Food

damp and moldy flour, meal, grain products(3); larvae and adults also feed on dead animals(2)

Life Cycle

Larva (prepupal) on 12.21.2024:

Pupa (pupated 12.31.2024)

Adult (eclosed 01.19.2025):

Remarks

Vector of many poultry pathogens(2)

Internet References

Fact sheet (Dunford & Kaufman 2006)(5)

Works Cited

1.	Tenebrionoidea of South Carolina Janet C. Ciegler. 2014. Clemson University.

2.	Beetles associated with stored products in Canada: An identification guide Bousquet Y. 1990. Research Branch Agriculture Canada, Publication 1837.

3.	Handbook of urban insects and arachnids: A handbook of urban entomology Robinson W.H. 2005. Cambridge University Press.

4.	The Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada Majka C.G., Bouchard P., Bousquet Y. 2008. Can. Entomol. 140: 690‒713.

5.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki on 11 December, 2008 - 1:31pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov, dvoribird
Last updated 19 January, 2025 - 4:19pm

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