Yellow Mealworm Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus Dark Mealworm Tenebrio obscurus Fabricius Mealworms are one of the best baits for bluegills, perch, trout, whitefish and many pan fish. Ice fishermen will catch many kinds of pan fish with mealworms when other baits fail. Bluegills prefer smaller baits after ponds and lakes are frozen. Kinds of Mealworms Yellow mealworm adult beetles are shiny black, whereas dark mealworm adults are dull black. Young larvae are white and darken with age.
Pupae are first white before turning yellow.
Obtaining Mealworms Mealworms can be obtained from pet shops where they are used to feed birds, reptiles and animals. Also, live bait stores sometimes sell mealworms. They often are found in granaries, feed stores and poultry houses. Cages Use a large, galvanized metal washtub, large bucket, crock or wooden box. A suitable lid can be made by perforating small holes in a thin sheet of zinc cut to fit inside the box rim and resting the lid on a narrow wooden batten or strip all around.