mealworm

American  

[meel-wurm] / ˈmilˌwɜrm /

noun

1. the larva of any of several darkling beetles of the genus Tenebrio, which infests granaries and is used as food for birds and animals.

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mealworm British  

/ ˈmiːlˌwɜːm /

noun

1. the larva of various beetles of the genus Tenebrio, esp T. molitor, feeding on meal, flour, and similar stored foods: family Tenebrionidae

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Etymology

Origin of mealworm

First recorded in 1650–60; meal ² + worm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mealworm

For jays, the high-quality food was mealworm and the low-quality food was bread, while crows' preferred food was meat and the less preferred option was apple.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 6, 2023

A type of beetle larva commonly called a mealworm is also part of the surging interest in bug farms.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 28, 2023

Up close, the teeth resemble spindly plant roots or mealworm bodies.

From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2023

Wei-min Wu, a senior researcher at Stanford University who led its mealworm study, said there has been a growing chorus of researchers looking for natural solutions to recycle plastic because of the environmental risks.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 17, 2022

Our first concoction included one mealworm, a piece of fern, two sunberries, and pinches of salt and sugar.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate