Physical+Characteristics+of+Mealworms

= = = Physical Characteristics of Mealworms  =



** Head **
The head of the mealworm looks very similar to the heads of other larval-stage insects, such as the caterpillar. The head has two compound eyes, two antennae and mandibles. The mealworm uses its strong mandibles to chew through its food.

** Thoracic and Abdominal Segments **
Behind the head of the mealworm are the thoracic and abdominal segments. On each of the three thoracic segments there is a pair of legs. The mealworm pulls itself along by these six short legs. The legs being so short creates the appearance that the larva has no legs at all, thus accounting for the "worm" in its name. The nine abdominal segments end in a spine. While the spine poses no threat to humans or animals, it may be used to help the mealworm to burrow into its habitat.

** External Anatomy **
Because the mealworm is not a true worm, its body is not fleshy but yellow, segmented and rigid. The mealworm's body has 13 segments--a head, three thoracic segments and nine abdominal segments. As in all insects, the mealworm's skeleton is on the outside of its body, giving the soft inner body an armor-like coating of protection. Mealworms shed this outer layer in a process called molting, in which the layer splits open allowing the mealworm to expand before the new armored shell hardens. The mealworm may undergo this process a dozen or more times during the larval stage.

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