A pile of mealworms.

The problem with mealworms is that if they find an accessible food source, they’ll spread. The longer they’re established, the more difficult they are to wipe out completely. That means the best way to counteract mealworms is to prevent them in the first place. 

In order to do that, you should know what mealworms are, where they come from, and how to keep them away. That’s what we’re here to help with today. This is everything you should know about the mealworms that might infest your property.

What are mealworms?

Mealworms aren’t actually an individual species; they’re the larval form of many different species. Mealworms are often talked about as if they are pest species in and of themselves simply because so many of them look and behave similarly. After all, what you care about is that you have a pest problem, not necessarily what your particular pest is.  

If you have a mealworm problem, you’re probably dealing with a yellow mealworm. Yellow mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, which is a species of darkling beetle. They typically measure around 1/8 of an inch long, though adults can grow up to half an inch in length. In color, they’re yellowish-brown with darker toned rings along their segmented bodies. When they grow into beetles, they are dark with hard shells and a typical size of half an inch.

Why do I have mealworms?

If you have mealworms, it’s because they were able to find and access a food source on your property. Mealworms will eat almost anything they can find, but they particularly prefer damp, decomposing, rotting, or moldy food. Infestations are quite common in brush piles, animal waste, and garbage. 

Yellow mealworms are also very interested in making their way into pantries to feed stored products. If you store things like rice, pasta, oatmeal, flour, or cereal, you’re at risk of mealworm infestation. Mealworms never stop growing, which means they never stop eating. They will continue living and feeding on their food sources continuously as they molt and grow.

How can I prevent mealworm infestations?

Preventing mealworm infestations relies on taking away their access to things that draw them in in the first place. Limiting their access to stored foods is the most effective way to do that. You can accomplish this by:

What should I do if I’ve found mealworms on my property?

Mealworms are a stored product pest. If you’ve found them on your property, it’s probably because you’re in charge of a business that processes or deals with food products. If you’ve noticed them, there are a couple of things you can do to remove them and prevent further disruption of your business. Things like:

A mealworm problem can be disastrous for a business or commercial property. They’re unpleasant to find, gross to look at, and generally bothersome. If you suspect you have a mealworm infestation, don’t let it go. Instead, call the experts at Assured Environments. They’ll be able to diagnose and remove your pest problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.