Mealworm farming

[Chaneys Ranch]

The worms in my second bin that I created at the same time that I increased the heat are ready to be fed out. The original bin has less of that size even though they are older. So the second container took a month while the other one is 4 months old. Subtract a month for the beetles to emerge and start doing their thing and it is really 3 months. But the last month has been in the heat too. So my recommendation stands... increase the heat if you want this process to go a lot faster.

yeppers! that was my outcome also, makes a huge difference! the pupa morph faster too.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

i read they like green peppers too. I am going to try that. Yesterday when I received my mealworms, I put a carrot and apple slices in. They love the apple slices but aren't too keen on the carrot. We had corn on the cob for dinner and I told everyone to keep their cobs so I will be trying those too.

I suspect that this is an availability/preference issue with the apple and carrot. The apple is softer so easier to consume than the carrot. Bet if you gave them only carrot that would get eaten as well.

 

[tazcat70]

I have my first beetle! It is still really pale!

 

[AngieO]

I suspect that this is an availability/preference issue with the apple and carrot. The apple is softer so easier to consume than the carrot. Bet if you gave them only carrot that would get eaten as well.

agree, apple slices are gone and they are getting into the carrot more. I also put in a banana peel and I have only seen one or two on it here and there.
I already have lots of pupae so I am excited about that! We should start warming up back to the 80's here in Florida soon so I think my mealworms should really start moving along.

 

[DMRippy]

i read they like green peppers too. I am going to try that. Yesterday when I received my mealworms, I put a carrot and apple slices in. They love the apple slices but aren't too keen on the carrot. We had corn on the cob for dinner and I told everyone to keep their cobs so I will be trying those too.

If you had that choice what would you pick?

 

[sueblack]

Right on, DM Rippy. Vegetables always come last. YUK.

I gave my mealworms sliced tomato yesterday and they made it disappear! They must know its really a fruit.

 

[Hens and Roos]

question- I need to add some wheat bran to our worm container, I read that I should heat it up in the oven 130 degrees for 15 minutes to make sure it is bug free- can we microwave the bran and if so how long?

 

[sueblack]

Hens and Roos, I ready on this thread that wheat bran should be baked 2 hours at 200 degrees, then let cool prior to using (don't want to burn the poor things) or that you can put it in the freezer to 2 days prior to using (allow to come to room temp). I don't recall microwave instructions. When I started I baked mine in the oven because I was in a hurry to get started. I put the extra in gallon freezer bags and stacked them in my chest freezer so they are ready when I need them.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Hens and Roos, I ready on this thread that wheat bran should be baked 2 hours at 200 degrees, then let cool prior to using (don't want to burn the poor things) or that you can put it in the freezer to 2 days prior to using (allow to come to room temp). I don't recall microwave instructions. When I started I baked mine in the oven because I was in a hurry to get started. I put the extra in gallon freezer bags and stacked them in my chest freezer so they are ready when I need them.

sounds good I will try that and add it after it cools down, thanks!

 

[sueblack]

sounds good I will try that and add it after it cools down, thanks!

Another word of warning. Don't do what I did. I was so excited to get my colony going and wanting my worms to be very nutritious that I added powdered milk (this was ok) and chick starter. Now I have mites in my very first colony. Why, I asked myself? Duh! I added chick starter, which is feed and harbors mites. Chick starter comes from the feed mill. Uggghhhh!! I was sooooo not thinking. Therefore my empty tub of this nutritious concoction was just put into the freezer, where it will have to stay for at least 2 days and then I will tackle sifting the worms and moving them to the clean tub. And so, the mite infestation battle begins. Now I can go back several pages and read about the trials and tribulations others have had trying to get rid if mites.