Breeding Mealworms: 4. Pupa

Earlier posts: 1; 2 and 3.

The larva reaches about 30 mm before turning a darker brown. It will wriggle about, causing a split in its old skin at the back of the head.

Further wriggling will push the old skin backwards, exposing the white pupa. The old skin collects as a crumpled mass at the posterior end (above) or as an intact cast (below).

The newly emerged pupa is white, 14×5 mm and curved, turning brown with time

The new pupa will slowly darken to show up the details – dorsal view above and ventral view below.

YC Wee
Singapore
16th December 2016