1. the larva of a darkling beetle, commonly used as food for pets and livestock

Examples

• The pet store sells mealworms as food for reptiles and birds.
• She fed her bearded dragon a handful of mealworms.
• Mealworms are rich in protein and often used in animal feed.
• The chickens eagerly ate the dried mealworms from the feeder.
• Many fish owners use mealworms as a nutritious treat for their pets.
• The biology class observed mealworms transforming into beetles.