Get a flat rubbermaid type container. I use the ones that are about 20" wide and 30" long. Any flat container with smooth sides will work. Put a layer of duck starter (not chick starter) in the bottom about 2-3" deep. You can also use bran but I have found that it gets a funky smell after a while. Throw in a bunch of mealworms. Cover over with a sheet of newspaper keeping the paper flat so the little beggars can't crawl up and over the sides. In the winter, when the house is dry, spritz the paper every couple of days with water for humidity. Throw in a couple of chunks of apple or potato and every banana skin that you have. Keep food tucked under paper. Remove if mouldy and replace with fresh approx once a week. In a short while, you will see pupa (ugly squatty white things with no heads) I remove the ones I find and put in a new container because these will shortly turn into beetles which will be laying eggs for your next hatching. Same set up for the beetles....newspaper, potato etc. Keep in a fairly dark area like your basement. In a few months you will begin to see teeny weeny mealworms in the beetle container and it will be very exciting !! because you know you are on your way to mealworm independance. I change their duck starter every now and again as it changes from starter to frass (mealworm poo) but be sure to sift out any small mealworms before you toss the old starter. Have been doing this for a year and have thousands. Help to supply the wildlife centre that I work with and supplements my own ducklings in the spring.
un
