Darkling Beetle - Teneral Adult
 
: Photo 1  

Stages of Beetle Metamorphosis
 

           

Adult teneral Darkling Beetle about 1 hour after molting
Once the adult emerges from the pupa (or molts) it is soft and pale colored (i.e.  teneral - photo 1).  In a couple of hours its exoskeleton will harden and develop its adult coloration (photo 2).  The beetle will retain this coloration and hardened exoskeleton for the rest of its life.  Shortly after molting the wings are typically small and shriveled and take several minutes to expand to their full size.

Adult Darkling Beetles live up to two or three months.  During this time they will feed on decaying plant material and other detritus. A typical adult female will lay several hundred eggs before it dies.

 
 
         
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