Mealworm farming

[Tumbleweed Farm]

BEETLES! LOTS AND LOTS OF BEETLES!

Last night I was sitting next to me meal worms and I saw a beetle. When I moved the muslin sack from the top of the bran layer, I discovered I probably have about a hundred or more in there!
Wow! That happened fast!

 

[Epreciado]

unless they are tiny like lice size or smaller, they are meal worm beetles. His just aren't as well fed or kept at the same temperature as yours

Okay thanks, I will try and take a picture of them next to one of mine as a comparison. But it's possible cause I keep mine in the garage and he keeps his in his room. Thanks

 

[1stACT]

All my grain mite infestations have been from bran bought from the grocery store in the breakfast cereal aisle.

Unless you have a sub-zero freezer, freezing won't kill grain mites. To be absolutely certain you've sterilized your bran or other grains, you need to use the oven. I make very sure by heating the oven at 325 -350 and leave it in for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

WOW..OK then, I guess I've lucked out so far. I also keep the lids off my bins which keeps the humidity down. Those little buggers can really heat up their bins. Thanks azygous!

 

[RoseMarie1]

WOW..OK then, I guess I've lucked out so far. I also keep the lids off my bins which keeps the humidity down. Those little buggers can really heat up their bins. Thanks azygous!

I have herds of little tiny worms in mine. The whole layer of food is moving in there. lol No telling how many it is. Not many of the hard black things and I can't remember what they're called right now, nor the large worm things but loads of teeny tiny worms.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: I keep looking for little worms have had beetles for a month now. How long ago did you start getting beetles?

 

[1stACT]

Quick question...what do you experienced mealworm farmers do about the dead beetle bodies. I have gone through the complete cycle. worm _ larva _ beetle _ egg _ worm. Now my beetles are caput and I'd like to remove their bodies from the substrate. Do you bother to do this? If so, do you have an simple way of doing it?? I keep the 4 stages separated, which is a bit laborious. I have also separated the worms from their frass (sp?) Now it too is full of tiny worms.
SO_do you remove the dead or not...that is the question.

 

[RoseMarie1]

I keep looking for little worms have had beetles for a month now. How long ago did you start getting beetles?

I didn't think I had anything in there but just a few because you can't see them they're so tiny. I could see the layer crumbles moving in there and that's all. I have had mine about 4 months now I guess. It took a little while for the large worms to turn into the larvae thing. I keep carrots or potatoes in it for them to feed on as well as they layer crumbles and some old fashioned oatmeal.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: Thanks for responding, probably too soon for me as I've only had the setup for 3 months.

 

[Latestarter]

There are many who just leave everything in there and let nature take its course... Then there are those who separate everything into individual containers... and then there are those somewhere in-between. If the carcasses are bothering you (just like the frass bothers some), you could use a sifter/colander to scoop them out. Since other beetles may have laid eggs on the carcasses, you might consider putting everything you scoop out into a new container with a small amount of wheat bran or oatmeal and give it a couple of weeks to see if anything starts moving

You might end up with another container of worms, or be dumping it back into the original container.

 

[1stACT]

From what I understand, the beetles live for up to 4 months and lay eggs over that time frame totaling 200+ eggs. Not sure exactly when they start laying after becoming adult beetles... The egg hatches after 2-3 weeks, and both egg and new worms are ****** near microscopic. all dependent on heat, humidity, and whether they like you or not...

If you want to see new worms, you better break out the big magnifying glass

or a microscope.

Quote: Originally Posted by 1stACT
There are many who just leave everything in there and let nature take its course... Then there are those who separate everything into individual containers... and then there are those somewhere in-between. If the carcasses are bothering you (just like the frass bothers some), you could use a sifter/colander to scoop them out. Since other beetles may have laid eggs on the carcasses, you might consider putting everything you scoop out into a new container with a small amount of wheat bran or oatmeal and give it a couple of weeks to see if anything starts moving

You might end up with another container of worms, or be dumping it back into the original container.

Thank you latestarter! I have already done as you proposed, and now have a small container of bodies YUCK. I'll throw them into the frass bin in the am.
Thanks again!