mealworm beetle

noun

A darkling beetle (or darkening beetle) of species Tenebrio molitor, in the family Tenebrionidae, whose larvae (mealworms) are typically used as a food source for reptile, fish, and avian pets.

Similar
yellow mealworm beetle
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Meanings

nounmealworm beetle (plural mealworm beetles)

plural mealworm beetles

  1. A darkling beetle (or darkening beetle) of species Tenebrio molitor, in the family Tenebrionidae, whose larvae (mealworms) are typically used as a food source for reptile, fish, and avian pets.

    Synonyms: yellow mealworm beetle

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA darkling beetle (or darkening beetle) of species Tenebrio molitor, in the family Tenebrionidae, whose larvae (mealworms) are typically used as a food source for reptile, fish, and avian pets.

Similar
yellow mealworm beetle
Also see
mealbeetle

Origin

From meal + worm + beetle.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan escarabat de la farina
  • escarabat de la farinamealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Czech potemník moučný
  • potemník moučnýmealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Dutch meeltor
  • meeltormealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
French ténébrion meunier
  • ténébrion meuniermealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
German Mehlkäfer, Schwarzkäfer
  • Mehlkäfermealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
  • Schwarzkäfermealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Korean 갈색거저리
  • 갈색거저리 (galsaekgeojeori)mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Polish mącznik młynarek, mącznik
  • mącznik młynarekmealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
  • mącznikmealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
  • młynarekmealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Russian большо́й мучно́й хруща́к, мучно́й жук
  • большо́й мучно́й хруща́к (bolʹšój mučnój xruščák)mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
  • мучно́й жук (mučnój žuk)mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
  • мучни́к (mučník)mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Slovak múčiar obyčajný
  • múčiar obyčajnýmealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Turkish un böceği
  • un böceğimealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Cite this entry
APA

mealworm beetle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealworm%20beetle

MLA

“mealworm beetle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealworm%20beetle. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mealworm beetle,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealworm%20beetle.

Source: mealworm beetle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.