Mealworm farming

[CluckyJay]

I had that problem with the potato too. I HAVE noticed that the mealworms aren't dying like they were with the potato as a water source. Maybe it had trace amounts of pesticides on it.

 

[CluckyJay]

Thanks! The camera is a digital Kodak z710 Easy Share and it only costs around 100.00, I think. It can't do what those really fancy cameras do but it gets us by!

 

[hannakat]

HIP HIP HURRAY!

The eggs I had in isolation hatched sometime after evening yesterday (I've been checking them twice a day). I'll post photos later.

So, in my continued effort to understand them more and discover all the stages, I now have photos from egg to wormie. They hatch white. I had them in isolation for 13/14 days at 72 degrees. Wonder what it would have been if they were kept in a warmer location? I might have to collect some more and stick them outside just to see.


Life cycle stages... this is relative to conditions such as temperature, food source, etc:
Egg Incubation: 4-19 days (usually 4-7). Another source says 20-40 days
Larva: 10 weeks. Visible after about a week
Pupa: 6-18 (18-24?) days
Beetle and Egg Laying: 8-12 weeks (followed by death). Egg laying starts 4-19 days (average 12) after emergence

 

[LibertyChick]

Quote:
How did you find the babies? Are they in clusters? I've put all my beetles in one bucket so they can mate and lay eggs...maybe this isn't such a good idea?. How long does it take them to lay eggs after they have mated? I see a bunch of them mating.

 

[LibertyChick]

Quote:
How about the nutrient content of what you are using as a substrate? Should we be using more nutritious form of grain?

 

[TerryLou]

I had mentioned that temp played a roll in the timing of the stages....so my son put my lil farm in the sun.... I think he killed them all. Time to start all over again !

 

[sassifrassi]

Quote:
AAAUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

 

[CluckyJay]

They started dying so quickly that I don't think it is a nutrient thing. I believe it was the potato. Next time I will use an organic variety.

 

[Chickangel79]

Quote:
It was a ten day, paid for, mother in law /grandma visit . very nice

Not sure how many I have I think its approx 2,000.

Glad I am not the only one with the potato problem. I'll get celery and try that. It's only the potato they die on.

 

[Hunterlauren93]

It is very exciting!! no one else really thinks its exciting. My hubby, thinks im crazy, my momma thinks im off my rocker, and all my friends think im out in left field. they also thought that when i got chickens, but dont think that now, since they get some eggs. do any of yall freeze dry them? or just feed them to them live?