Mealworm farming

[Ivywoods]

Thanks, Hannakat. I feel better about not having anything in the second drawer for moisture now. I didn't want to put something in there and then have it just sit and mold or something.

 

[mychookschick]

Hey guys!!

I just logged on to post some pics of the beetles that I found!! YAY!!!

Two new ones that I just discovered today!!


A darker one that I found yesterday in the mealy bin. Whoops! Missed a pupa! LOL

 

[CorinneP]

I Have Just allowed my son to start his "Meal Worm Business " Iwant to support him but I keep getting the willys !

 

[mychookschick]

That's OK, Corrine. I am raising them myself and I still get the "Willys"! LOL I must really love my birds! It is an amazing process to watch occur, though!! And you will be very happy to know that mealworms cannot climb, and the beetle form cannot climb or fly! So there is nothing to worry about, really! I have to admit though, it seems backwards to bring one species of BUG into your house, while trying to keep others out! LOL

 

[Emily1220]

I can justify ANYTHING if it's something I want to do!

I have questions for you experienced 3-drawer people. I just got mine set up.

Since there is space along the edge of the top drawer where there is no screen (had to have a place to glue the screen) do you gently shake or stir the oatmeal to insure that the eggs fall through the screen to the second drawer? YOU DONT HAVE TO BUT VERY SOON YOU WILL JUST FIND YOURSELF SIFTING THREW IT ALL JUST LOOKING!!! AND IN DOING THAT THEY WILL FALL THRU!!

I see nothing in my second drawer. (It's only been a few days.) I don't see tiny worms in my top drawer yet either, but there are plenty of beetles in there. At what point do I need to start adding something to the second drawer to insure there is moisture in there for the tiny wormies. With my old eyes, I'm not sure I will see them in there right away. I DIDNT SEE ANYTHING EITHER FOR ABOUT A MONTH.....A VERY LOOOOONG MONTH......BUT THEN SUDDENLY, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF WIGGLING LITTLE WORMIES!!! AND NOW I MAY HAVE MORE THAN I BARGAINED FOR!!

 

[ajlynco]

Can I mix mealies from different sources in the same bin as long as I don't transfer any substrate into the main bin?

 

[Emily1220]

Can I mix mealies from different sources in the same bin as long as I don't transfer any substrate into the main bin?

I dont know why not. And even the substrate......just dump it in. If thats wrong someone please advise me because I've been doing it for the past year with no problems!!

 

[onafixedincome]

That's OK, Corrine. I am raising them myself and I still get the "Willys"! LOL I must really love my birds! It is an amazing process to watch occur, though!! And you will be very happy to know that mealworms cannot climb, and the beetle form cannot climb or fly! So there is nothing to worry about, really! I have to admit though, it seems backwards to bring one species of BUG into your house, while trying to keep others out! LOL

Uh oh...I'm gonna be REAL unpopular here and remind folks that the beetles AND larvae can most certainly climb....IF there is footing for them. A typical mealie setup is a slick-sided plastic container and thus there are no escapees even from a shallow one. If you utilize older tubs, you might want to screen the tops until you know if they can climb a scratched-up side.

Just a word from someone who picked half a dozen beetles out of her hair this morning (I left a piece of paper leaning on the side!)....talk about a way to WAKE UP!!!

Startling, but not harmful except for the two cats sitting on my pillow patting my hair to try and catch them for me...

 

[onafixedincome]

From a strict biosecurity standpoint, keeping various batches/sources separated is a good idea. However, on a practical level, just add 'em in....but I would NOT combine substrates, since you don't know what's living in there that you don't want! (Mites, moths...etc.)

 

[onafixedincome]

One other thing...to separate beetles from pupae and worms, I start at one end and gently 'sift' with my hand. Most beetles show up ON my hand--they love to cling, and it's really rather cool. I just gently shake them off into the new container as I go. Bear in mind, beetles SLEEP, a lot and hard! So set your dish of 'dead' beetles aside overnight and look again in about 8-12 hours.