mealworm
noun
meal·worm ˈmēl-ˌwərm 
: the larva of a darkling beetle (especially genus Tenebrio) that infests grain products but is often raised as food for insectivorous animals, for laboratory use, or as fishing bait
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web People trying to reduce their meat consumption could use a mealworm additive to fulfill their meaty cravings, for instance. 
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Researchers In Hee Cho and Hyeyoung Park presented their development of a meaty mealworm flavoring at the American Chemical Society’s fall meeting, according to a news release issued on Wednesday. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 The lesser mealworm is the fourth insect to be granted EFSA approval. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 18 July 2022 In 2021, the EFSA gave its thumbs up to the Yellow mealworm being used in food products, resulting in a raft of new insect burger brands. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Wei-min Wu, a senior researcher at Stanford University who led its mealworm study, said there has been a growing chorus of researchers looking for natural solutions to recycle plastic because of the environmental risks. Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 Options like that—yellow mealworm smoothies, biscuits, pasta, and burgers—will soon be mass produced across Europe. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2022 In Australia, dogs can chow down on pumpkin and mealworm biscuits made by Buggy Bix. Matt Reynolds, Wired, 15 Feb. 2022 In France, Ÿnsect has launched a breeding program to study the genetics of Tenebrio molitor, the mealworm beetle. Matt Reynolds, Wired, 15 Feb. 2022 See More
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Researchers In Hee Cho and Hyeyoung Park presented their development of a meaty mealworm flavoring at the American Chemical Society’s fall meeting, according to a news release issued on Wednesday. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 The lesser mealworm is the fourth insect to be granted EFSA approval. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 18 July 2022 In 2021, the EFSA gave its thumbs up to the Yellow mealworm being used in food products, resulting in a raft of new insect burger brands. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Wei-min Wu, a senior researcher at Stanford University who led its mealworm study, said there has been a growing chorus of researchers looking for natural solutions to recycle plastic because of the environmental risks. Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 Options like that—yellow mealworm smoothies, biscuits, pasta, and burgers—will soon be mass produced across Europe. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2022 In Australia, dogs can chow down on pumpkin and mealworm biscuits made by Buggy Bix. Matt Reynolds, Wired, 15 Feb. 2022 In France, Ÿnsect has launched a breeding program to study the genetics of Tenebrio molitor, the mealworm beetle. Matt Reynolds, Wired, 15 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1658, in the meaning defined above