I'm seeing more and more stories of mites. Got my fingers crossed that they dont visit me. My colonies are indoors. Temperature in the house is around 79 ( it'd be 75 if the wife would allow it ). I do however set an electric blanket over the larva every chance I get. Humidity never go over...
Hello BYC peeps,
Posting a few pics of my beetle bin....its going crazy. I'm pulling as many beetles and pupa out of the 2 other bins nightly...probably 100 of each per night. Plus, ( dont ask me why ) but I bid on an auction for 500 beetles and won. lol Going to start a new colony with...
This might not be good...I wouldn't let them take it to the bottom. I lost a couple pieces of potato that they little guys pulled to the bottom and it went moldy. I had to sift through 10,000 mealworms to get the smell out. This happened a week ago and they still smell funky......
Just gona...
So do they have any issues "crawling" to the top of the embroidery hoop to eat? Is the "tulle" fabric something special so they don't attempt to eat it as they do paper bags?
I sure I learning a lot here....this is sweet!!
Thanks
Eddie
Hello all,
Here's my colony...they seem to be thriving. I think that the electric blanket I leave over them all day and night is working. I purchased a monitor with a sensor that is inside the drawer system to monitor humidity and temp. It stays around 93 degrees in there....humidity around...
A recommendation to me by Gallo who has a pretty great thread on the way he raises mealworms....cut the potatoes VERY thin. I take my time and cut them 1/8" or less. They don't mold then because they are devoured before there is a chance. I like to use potatoes cuz they keep my operating...
Well....its Pupaville in my bottom drawer. This are a hoppin and wigglin!!!! I estimate that within a few days, I'll have a couple hundred beetles. Then it'll be on like Donkey Kong in my top drawer.
I'll post some pics tomorrow. It's fixin to get fun!!!
Eddie
About a week. They were med-large when I got them....a pretty good mixture in sizes. They were in around 75 degrees when I first got them. Then I threw an electric blanket over the entire 3 drawer system and now they been in 80 degrees for 90% of the day/night. 2 days after the blanket, I...
2 questions.....
I've read that the mealworms like cactus. Would this be "any" type pf cactus? I have a few in the yard that I run over with the mower every few weeks.
AND sponges. I've also read that some people use sponges for the moisture source. Does anyone do this?
Thanks
Eddie
I have 10,000 mealworms and was pulling 8-10 pupa from the top of the substrate for a few days. Then I pulled a handful of worms up to lay them across a banana peel and the entire BOTTOM of the bin was full of pupa. I guess I'll be on beetle watch instead of pupa watch for now. lol
A few posts back I posted something similiar. Looks like a pupa thats shedding skin..thats what I was told if I remember correctly. I got hundreds of them. Guess Im gonna be overrun with beetles soon :)
OK all you mealworm veterans...I have a question. I have 10,000 mealworms and have been pulling pupa out of them everyday...I have about 45 over the past few days. Then I started to get curious and scooped along the sides of my container where they all like to hang and party. WOW!!! It's...
Those people using the 3 drawer system, has anyone created something to prevent the top drawer from being pulled out unless the 2nd drawer is also pulled out? If the top drawer has screen to allow baby worms to fall through, I'd hate to have my little girl open the drawer and drop 100 worms...
Hello BYC gang,
Do the 3 drawer systems have enough ventilation the way they are set up? It's impossible to keep the tops open as they are set up as a unit from the factory so to speak. Should additional holes be added towards the top edge of the sides?
Also, I'm thinking of putting them...
Well...my 10,000 mealworms arrived in good condition today. I'm going with the 3 drawer system....just need some screen for the top. Right now, they're all different sizes....range from 1/2" to 1".
A couple questions for the pros:
The pupa...do they tend to sit on the top? I imagine...
Well... I don't know if I'm crazy or obsessed but I just read 194 pages of this thread before I just said, "Go to the end and post!!" :)
I just purchased 10,000 mealworms and am ready to go. It's going to be a project for my daughters and I. Going to market them for extra cash for family...