Mealworm farming

[Epreciado]

Rob I like your idea. I actually just started duckweed today finally found a supplier here in Tucson. Was a little pricy but if it goes as planned will be worth it.

 

[Quickster]

This may have been done before, but I started using a tiny drawer set for my pupae. There are 9 drawers each about two inches wide, maybe 6 inches long. Each day I collect pupae, put them in a drawer. The next day,the ones I collect go in the next drawer. Then each day I pick the oldest drawer, they have all turned into beetles, so i dump the whole drawer into the big beetle drawer. That way I'm not picking beetles out of a drawer full of pupae everyday.

 

[kendles]

May I inquire. Why do you do that? Why not put them in the Beetle drawer right from the start? Just curious. Since they are going to end up in there anyway.

I'm just getting started and looking for why people do the things they do. Not that it's wrong mind you. Just wondering why you do it the way "you" do.

I've been harvesting mow about 30 Pupae a day. I keep mine in a shallow drawer with a little wheat bran and always have a little carrot just in case I have a little morphing happening and I not see it they aren't left without a source of food or drink. anyway... my best to you and your colony.

 

[Quickster]

Probably the best reason I have is that it is still somewhat new and "fun" and I don't mind spending the time doing it. I had a pupae drawer before that, probably just because when I was learning about how to do it, other people had done that so that's what I did . I'm guessing down the road, when its not fun or interesting anymore, I will just have one drawer where they all go no matter what stage of the life cycle.

 

[RobSherman]

They are canibalistic, the beetles will eat the defenseless pupae

 

[kubotafoot]

People on this blog say the beetles DO NOT eat the pupa....It is an old wave's tale. Many "old time" farmers of mealworms leave them all together and have no trouble. Have you had beetles eating pupa at your home? I wonder what to believe, as I have mine in a mix and see no eating going on......?????.......

 

[jenneverett]

If you research my meal worm posts you all know i am new to literally everything both chicken and meal worm related... BUT i have spend countless hours reading posts and watching videos from all sources available. in all related material concerning the cannibalism it is rare indeed. generally most people feed their worms well and give them a source of moisture regularly witch prevents them from turning on each other for food and water.

 

[subhanalah]

They are canibalistic, the beetles will eat the defenseless pupae

this is true of superworms, not mealworms. They are completely different species. This is why in order to get superworms to pupate, you have to isolate them because the superworms larva and beetles eat the pupae. Superworms will also bite YOU with their huge mandibles. Mealworms don't bite.

If you research my meal worm posts you all know i am new to literally everything both chicken and meal worm related... BUT i have spend countless hours reading posts and watching videos from all sources available. in all related material concerning the cannibalism it is rare indeed. generally most people feed their worms well and give them a source of moisture regularly witch prevents them from turning on each other for food and water.

what she said

 

[KefirGuy]

Me too.

 

[beverly evans]

here is the set up and some pics

They are all different colors, just like grains of sand! I guess due to different ages and/or stages of development?