Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) farming for food and feed is a rapidly growing sector with welfare questions about density, environment, and killing methods.
Mealworm welfare considerations parallel those of other insect farming systems. Thermal tolerance studies show mealworms actively avoid temperatures above 35-37°C, suggesting they have temperature preferences with possible welfare implications. Industrial rearing conditions with extreme density and minimal substrate variation may compromise welfare if mealworms have any capacity for suffering. The prevention of full beetle lifecycle completion - killing larvae before metamorphosis - raises questions about whether preventing natural developmental stages constitutes a welfare harm.