Lesser Mealworm

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Alphitobius diaperinus

Lesser Mealworm, a reference photo
Photo: Udo Schmidt from Deutschland · CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence)

Alphitobius diaperinus is a species of beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles. It is known commonly as the lesser mealworm and the litter beetle. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring nearly worldwide. It is known widely as a pest insect of stored food grain products such as flour, and of poultry-rearing facilities and it is a vector of many kinds of animal pathogens. In larval form, it is an approved novel food in the European Union, and also used as animal feed.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Lesser Mealworm being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Tenebrionidae
Species
Alphitobius diaperinus

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