Everything Mealworm; starting a new farm for winter feed.

[pdavin]

Good day all. We are graced with another sunny 55++ degree day so I've got to head out but... I am moving my worms/beatles/pupa/eggs from a bucket in the kitchen to a bonafide high production area (large aquarium) in my basement. One bit of info that I need is the minimum temp. How cold is too cold? My basement never approaches freezing and if to guess probably never below 55F. Any info would be much appreciated. Well the sun is beckoning here in SW pa. Have a good one!

 

[pdavin]

Well I found one link that calls out 80F "ideally" or room temp ok. I have my bucket in the kitchen and our house is never 80F summer or winter so I am going with room temp.

 

[Leihamarie]

Good day all.  We are graced with another sunny 55++ degree day so I've got to head out but... I am moving my worms/beatles/pupa/eggs  from a bucket in the kitchen to a bonafide high production area (large aquarium) in my basement.  One bit of info that I need is the minimum temp.  How cold is too cold?  My basement never approaches freezing and if to guess probably never below 55F.  Any info would be much appreciated.  Well the sun is beckoning here in SW pa.  Have a good one!

I raise mealworms and when it gets below 60, I pit a seed heating mat under or around my set-up. You'll want to keep things well above 70 degrees for maximum production.

 

[azygous]

Your worms will go dormant below 65F. If you want to see a good pace of morphing, you need to keep them around 80F. Even as it gets down toward 70, the larvae will "stall", and you won't see much pupating. And when they get into the pupa stage, you need to keep them close to 80F or they will dry out and die before they can morph into beetles.

 

[pdavin]

Thanks for the info. I can rig up some bottom heat. I see some changing but they are kinda lethargic.

 

[balloonflower]

I have some fluorescent plant lights that hang which I use all winter. I keep my plastic boxes sitting on them to up the heat.