NV2- Mealworm

Sample information

Picture
Photos by: NihalV
Location
Collection date 11/13/2025
Captive / Cultivated? Captive / Cultivated
Group Walton High School
Observations

Since this arthropod is a cultured mealworm, it was found in a box that had oats and other nutritious substances/material. The mealworm was also found among many other mealworms and super worms. The arthropod moves very slowly with the front end of the arthropod moving followed by the behind. The arthropod moves on its 6 very small appendages at the front of the body. When in the collection container and agitated the arthropod thrashes around slowly. The arthropod has a very uniform shape with a tannish, beige coloration. There are 6 small appendages on the posterior first 1/4 length of the body. The front of the arthropod has a brownish color that is flat in shape. The arthropod also has multiple scale like partitionings on the anterior side of the body.

Putative identification Arthropoda Insecta Coleoptera Tenebrionidae Tenebrio Tenebrio molitor

Methods

Extraction kit DNeasy (Qiagen) blood and tissue kit
DNA extraction location Abdomen
Single or Duplex PCR
Gel electrophoresis system
Buffer
DNA stain
Gel images
Protocol notes

Remove the abdomen from the mealworm which is the last 3/4 of the mealworm. Place the abdomen in the microcentrifuge tube, add in the buffer and grind vigorously with the pestle until the body is in the solution. Add in the other buffers step by step to perform the purification. When DNA is purified after being poured into column, elute the column.

Results

Wolbachia presence
Confidence level
Explanation of confidence level
Wolbachia 16S sequence
Arthropod COI sequence
Summary
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