Mealworm farming

[onafixedincome]

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Looking good, but aren't you going to need more media in there? Oh, EXperrrtttssss.......?

Wow. All stages in that crew! I'm jealous!

 

[quesodano]

I just took a pic before adding more media to show them off. She started me off right! I is most pleased!

 

[hannakat]

Oh Amy!!! I'm soooo sorry to hear about the dumped bin

I've not been on the board for a couple days and missed the news. I bet a certain person (DH) is in the dog house. Here's hoping the babie mealies all come to the call of the apple!!!!

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When they pupate, they are at their maximum growth. The only way to slow them down is to cool them down. At least you're on your way to a successful second generation!!

Wish I would have gotten the large also....


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I've had that happen as well sadies chicks. I now put the pupae in a separate, small container that has a lid, with a bit of news paper and a leaf of some kind for moisture. I change the leaf frequently to maintain a higher humidity. Kale and lettuce have been the most frequently used leafs. I check frequently for beetles moving them to the beetle bin. There's still deformed beetles and dried out pupae but more of them successfully morph.

Hope this helps!


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Wow...looking good quesodano!!!

 

[bloom_ss]

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From what I've read, the giant mealworms have been given a growth hormone to retard the pupa stage. Your smallr ones are changing as they would normally would.

Hmm...I didn't get giant mealworms though. I did see them in the store, but I only got the medium and large sizes (they didn't have small ones in stock or I would have got some in that size also). Almost every single one of the large mealworms has turned into a pupa already but only a few of the medium ones have changed so far. I guess I was just hoping that it would be a bit longer before the medium ones started changing so I could get some beetles and small mealworms going before the medium ones got big enough to change into pupae.

 

[bloom_ss]

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When they pupate, they are at their maximum growth. The only way to slow them down is to cool them down. At least you're on your way to a successful second generation!!

Wish I would have gotten the large also....

Well, I guess that makes sense. Maybe the large ones from the store had been in refrigeration for longer to make them grow bigger without changing into pupae. And, you are right, at least I'm going to start getting beetles soon!

 

[oneofseven]

Here is some interesting info on mealworm growth. Many of the commercial growers produce the large and giant worms by giving a special steroid called "juvenile hormone" to inhibit the pupal stage of growth. Here is a link to some info : http://www.insects.ugent.be/pbp%202006%20aribi%20et%20al%20pyriproxyfen.pdf
Also, google " juvenile hormone in mealworms " to get more great facts about it.

 

[sadies chicks]

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When they pupate, they are at their maximum growth. The only way to slow them down is to cool them down. At least you're on your way to a successful second generation!!

Wish I would have gotten the large also....


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I've had that happen as well sadies chicks. I now put the pupae in a separate, small container that has a lid, with a bit of news paper and a leaf of some kind for moisture. I change the leaf frequently to maintain a higher humidity. Kale and lettuce have been the most frequently used leafs. I check frequently for beetles moving them to the beetle bin. There's still deformed beetles and dried out pupae but more of them successfully morph.

Hope this helps!


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Wow...looking good quesodano!!!

thanks hannakat, I will try that!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Well, it was most wonderful advice about the hose over the end of the vacuum!

I use a shop vac though (Have to in my house! It is more like a barn in here!) and hope I did not injure anyone in the gathering. Some of those tiny fellas were still embedded pretty well but we would soft brush the carpet a bit and kept working them up and then turning on the vacuum. We got a lot more up this morning until our backs were aching and we were going cross eyed.

Thank you who ever it was that posted about the hose over the end of the vacuum. It was MOST excellent! Easy to get up and back into the bin.

 

[Bird Collector]

Thank god for the worms. I started my meal worms because I have a silkie,"Willow" who became realy sick with the respiratory crud. The only thing she would eat was worms and I found a lady who sold them for $10 for 1000. She told me to start my own because she felt I was "earthy" So I did and thank god because the last three years when the season changes Willow comes down with the crud. She is back in the house in the ICU/half bath and on the road to recovery. We just had breakfast togther Willow 20 worms, me coffee x2. Now we are watchign some TV before I start the day. Another happy note. I believe I have won the war on the moths. I see no more and have not had an increase of the buggers ont he traps.

 

[oneofseven]

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