Modeling of development and water consumption of mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae using nonlinear growth curves and polynomial functions

The water needs of Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have to be met in either in-vitro culture or mass production. In this study, water needs of larvae were met directly by using a purpose-built water diffuser. The efficacy of larvae grown with the water diffuser (W) was tested against the control group (CONT). Various growth models were used to test their appropriateness to describe the experimental data. This research was conducted in the Population Genetic Laboratory of Animal Science Department of Isparta University of Applied Sciences in 2018. The highest larval weights were 138 mg in W and 144 mg in CONT treatments. The larvae in W entered the pupal period 2 weeks before the larvae in CONT. The growth of larvae in both groups was successively modeled with Gompertz and logistic growth curve models, and quadratic and cubic polynomial functions. The mean weekly water consumption of the W larvae was found to be between 58.4-129 mg. The water consumption of larvae can be described by polynomial functions. There were significant correlation coefficients for larval age, larval weight and water consumption. Consequently, using the diffuser instead of fresh vegetables or fruits is more suitable to meet the water requirement of the larvae.