Meet the Darkling Beetle
Bazoef Petfood’s dog food is made from the larvae of the Tenebrion Meunier. These larvae are also known as “mealworms”.
Raised in France, the mealworms are fed exclusively with local agricultural by-products, such as wheat bran.
Life cycle
The adult miller beetle is a robust and shiny beetle. It is about 16 mm long.
The female lays an average of 400 to 500 eggs. The eggs hatch after a few days. The larvae that emerge are about 2 mm long. They start out white and turn golden yellow as they grow. On average, the larva reaches 30 mm in length. In farms, most of them are harvested at this stage.
A fraction of the larvae is however kept for the next reproduction cycle and is transformed into a pupa. The insect spends two to three weeks in this stage before emerging as a winged adult. Depending on the environmental conditions, the complete cycle of the miller beetle can last between four months and two years.
Why the Tenebrion Meunier?
- the insect protein shows considerable performance on the growth and health of domestic animals.
- Tenebrion Meunier is naturally present in Belgium and France.
- It consists of 72% high quality protein. The mealworm also has other nutrients essential for animal health such as omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins.
- It is a gregarious and nocturnal species, which makes it easy to rear. This insect has been extensively studied by scientists.
- Unlike vertebrates, the larvae of the Tenebrion Meunier do not have a skeleton, fur, etc. The entire animal is edible. There is no waste.
