Mealworm farming

[Chaneys Ranch]

The mites appear to be gone! I checked some samples under a magnifying lens and saw nothing that was moving. I dumped the contents into a tub and washed the tray, then restored the worms to their tray with some baby carrots. I checked again an hour later to see if there were any mites on the carrots. None.

So now we know how to get rid of grain mites in meal worm trays : starve the mites of moisture by drying out the bedding. The worms appeared to survive, at least the large, visible ones. And they sure were thirsty! The carrots were host to many worms in no time after being put into their tray!

Thanks for the help, Jchny!

awesome news!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
hehe, thats what makes it so fun!

I really cant take credit for it tho, i just remembered it from some one else's experience with them. Really glad it had a happy ending!

 

[McPhersonFarm]

We're joining in the mealworming community Just ordered 3000.... Also, ordered some red wigglers. Tomorrow we have to build our houses for them fun stuff

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We're joining in the mealworming community Just ordered 3000.... Also, ordered some red wigglers. Tomorrow we have to build our houses for them fun stuff

Woohoo! that will set you up very well! Glad you joined

 

[McPhersonFarm]

I didn't have time to read through all 533 pages of posts LOL, so can anyone tell me how vital it is to seperate beetles worms and larvae?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

The mites appear to be gone! I checked some samples under a magnifying lens and saw nothing that was moving. I dumped the contents into a tub and washed the tray, then restored the worms to their tray with some baby carrots. I checked again an hour later to see if there were any mites on the carrots. None.

So now we know how to get rid of grain mites in meal worm trays : starve the mites of moisture by drying out the bedding. The worms appeared to survive, at least the large, visible ones. And they sure were thirsty! The carrots were host to many worms in no time after being put into their tray!

Thanks for the help, Jchny!

One last thought on it, if you start to see the buggers again, repeat what you did, just in case the eggs lived through the drying process. I don't know much about the mites but i remember seeing someone had a recurrence. I have read this whole thread a few times now, there's a ton of good info in it, and a lotta laughs!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I didn't have time to read through all 533 pages of posts LOL, so can anyone tell me how vital it is to seperate beetles worms and larvae?

you really don't have to. I take out pupa if i see them but if you maintain it at least once a week its fine. We have one member on here that's had a 10 gallon fish tank going for years with great success, doesn't sort anything..

 

[LaBella]

I don't know how i did it, i was like 11 or younger. I always did a 2 handed thing and came from opposite sides lol! Gramma has told me they were poisonous thinking i would leave them alone. I knew she was fibbing

I'm sure at 11 I would have been able to catch them by hand, but at 30 plus years, it's not happening without a net, lol.]

My mealies are doing great, I need to get some pics. I believe I may have started off with the lowest amount.... I think I need to count them, lolol

 

[farmhand]

I have read this whole thread a few times now...

 

[sueblack]

I'm so excited! I just ordered 2,000 mealworms. This site is soooooo much fuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many worms should I put in a 14" x 24" tote?