Mealworm farming

[Terri O]

You might even have some pupae the next day if they are ready to turn. When I got my last ones and it was warm out they turned on the second day I had them! T

 

[Kassaundra]

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That mostly depends on temps, the warmer the colony is the faster they eat, molt, grow.

 

[Kassaundra]

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I use layer pellets, and I freeze it before use. I have never used any other substrate, but on this thread there are lots of differant substrates used, all kinds of grains, dirt, chicken food etc... everyones worms seem to be doing well no matter what the substrate they use is. I think the substrate may be more a choice of convenience, availability or some are trying to avoid specific problems. (like the person using the dirt lives in an area w/ a bad grain moth problem so she is using dirt to avoid that problem)

 

[ipana]

On the feeding of mealworms. I have little yellow squash, plant died in the freeze. Part of a potato (I gave them a couple of slices, one per bin, on Friday), Watermelon that isn't ripe yet, but the vines are dying so I just picked and put on table to ripen. I gather I should put wet foods on top of a plastic something to keep the bran dry. I also put half a piece of bread in with the worms, and another in with the beetles.
I'm using wheat bran (amazingly cheap). What else do I need to know?

I have found it helpful to put crumbled up (not wadded up) newspaper on top of everything being certain that the newspaper is not touching the top or the worms will crawl out! The newspaper seems to help keep warmth inside and it also provides "secret" places for the worms and good adhesion for the beetles to lay their eggs. When I am rooting around trying to put feed onto the plastic lids, I try to be careful not to overdo on disturbing the residents of the newspaper.​

 

[ipana]

Oh, and an update on the moth traps. The one in the bin doesn't have any moths in it, but then I haven't seen any in there anyway. The one outside the bin has been working! There's at least a dozen stuck in there and I haven't seen any flying about in a couple days now.

Galanie,

Glad to hear the traps are working for you as they did for me. It is a shock to see the number of moths that are trapped, isn't it? I didn't even know they were there!​

 

[Gypsi]

Was I supposed to freeze or nuke my wheat bran to kill off any bugs that might already be in it? Because I didn't....ooopps

 

[ipana]

I didn't do anything to my wheat bran, Gypsi. I've already used a 50# bag and am on a second. I do use the pantry moth traps. Whether or not these are critical, I couldn't say. Perhaps, if you keep an eye on things? Although, who has time to sit and watch for mites to develop?

Two of the pantry moth traps are about $7 online if you think you may need them. Or, you could remove your worms and microwave the bran before returning the worms.

 

[galanie]

hehe yes, best to have either frozen or nuked them, but like she said, probably won't be a problem. You could always hang a few traps just in case if you want.

 

[Gypsi]

maybe a little later today I'll sift what I've got and nuke it fast. Right now I haven't got that many critters in it, I can put them in newspaper in the tray. How long in the microwave?

 

[bloom_ss]

I just noticed yesterday evening that a lot of my larger meal worms are starting to just stop moving and are just laying around in the bin. Does that mean they are all about to pupate?? I still only have the one pupa that I can definitely see is a pupa, not a larva. Am I about to get a bunch of pupae at once?? Because that would be great!! lol