Mealworm farming

[kendles]

Here I am again with yet more questions. LOL I have Pupae coming out my ears. Just today the harvest count was 327!
1. Some of my Pupae are not curved and clean shedded like the others is this ok or will that pupae be deformed when and if it morphs?
2. Some of the Pupae (not many) but they look like they have something stuck on their head, like they got a wad of wheat bran stuck on them like a hat. What's up with that and what do I do about it? Is the Pupae alive and will turn out ok?
3. I asked this before and I didn't see a reply, so I'll ask again. Are meal worms smart enough to crawl out of the bran bedding/food to drink? Or do I have to cover with veggies all over the place?
4. I was wondering if you could use the clay rocks that I use in my hydro-garden for them to get moisture from. You soak them, then they hold moisture, but they aren't wet. Or even lava stones
5. Can I put the veggies on a plastic lid to offer the wet foods to them to help keep the substrate cleaner
6. another question I made my beetle bin with the screen in the bottom and it busted through. Any idea how that happened? see my photo stream for picture (link in sig line)
7. What is the minimum and maximum depth of the substrate for the Beetles?

 

[beverly evans]

Here I am again with yet more questions. LOL I have Pupae coming out my ears. Just today the harvest count was 327!
1. Some of my Pupae are not curved and clean shedded like the others is this ok or will that pupae be deformed when and if it morphs?
2. Some of the Pupae (not many) but they look like they have something stuck on their head, like they got a wad of wheat bran stuck on them like a hat. What's up with that and what do I do about it? Is the Pupae alive and will turn out ok?
3. I asked this before and I didn't see a reply, so I'll ask again. Are meal worms smart enough to crawl out of the bran bedding/food to drink? Or do I have to cover with veggies all over the place?
4. I was wondering if you could use the clay rocks that I use in my hydro-garden for them to get moisture from. You soak them, then they hold moisture, but they aren't wet. Or even lava stones
5. Can I put the veggies on a plastic lid to offer the wet foods to them to help keep the substrate cleaner
6. another question I made my beetle bin with the screen in the bottom and it busted through. Any idea how that happened? see my photo stream for picture (link in sig line)
7. What is the minimum and maximum depth of the substrate for the Beetles?

kSaw your fotos. Not a clue, maybe moisture . Ditch the screen, most don't use them it seems. I saw someone's foto of newspaper on top of the worms with the wet stuff on it to prevent an excess of moisture. The worms just crawled on top to eat their carrots or whatever. They may have to smell them thru the paper and plastic might not work. Just guessing. The clay rocks sound like a great idea, but no nutritive value. Try them and see if the worms suck on them. That green styrofoam that florists use to hold water without drips....I wonder if that would work?? : )

 

[subhanalah]

kSaw your fotos. Not a clue, maybe moisture .  Ditch the screen, most don't use them it seems.  I saw someone's foto of newspaper on top of the worms with the wet stuff on it to prevent an excess of moisture. The worms just crawled on top to eat their carrots or whatever.  They may have to smell them thru the paper and plastic might not work.  Just guessing.  The clay rocks sound like a great idea, but no nutritive value.  Try them and see if the worms suck on them.  That green styrofoam that florists use to hold water without drips....I wonder if that would work??  : )

the green Styrofoam is poisonous, from what my florist mother told me.

I've used water crystals like what you add to potting soil to help it hold moisture. I'm probably going to have to go for those again, keeping fresh produce in my house is hard with all the stuff that eats it.

 

[aart]

I've used plastic can lids, actually put 3 carrot slices under the edges......the lids get completely buried with a 4-5 days. They will climb on top of them to get to carrot slices also.

 

[beverly evans]

Quote: How about dryish vegetables like cabbage leaves and any kind of root. It doesn't have to be carrots or potatoes. Also they have formidable jaws so the veggies can be whole, no need for lots of wet slices of say potato, but use small potatoes. They'll eat them without so much moisture messing things up. Fruit is very wet so I wouldn't use it. : )

 

[1stACT]

HELP!

I have a massive mite issue! They are in both the beetle and worm bins. Here in PA it's been warm and raining so hence very humid. The last time this happened it wasn't nearly as bad and I was able to rinse the beetles and put the eggs and infected substrate outside to freeze. Obviously I can't do that this time, so do you experts have any suggestions as to how to best proceed? In advance...thanks for your advise!!!

 

[chickensfinally]

HELP! 

I have a massive mite issue! They are in both the beetle and worm bins. Here in PA it's been warm and raining so hence very humid.  The last time this happened it wasn't nearly as bad and I was able to rinse the beetles and put the eggs and infected substrate outside to freeze. Obviously I can't do that this time, so do you experts have any suggestions as to how to best proceed? In advance...thanks for your advise!!! 

I would think if rinsing the beetles worked last time, just do that again and start over with new substrate that has spent time in your oven or freezer( or freeze the current substrate there, no nevermind that would probably be icky). I think oven would be faster, just make sure to cool down first can you also rinse the pupae and biggish mealies? --Carrie (sorry, that just sucks)

 

[subhanalah]

HELP! 

I have a massive mite issue! They are in both the beetle and worm bins. Here in PA it's been warm and raining so hence very humid.  The last time this happened it wasn't nearly as bad and I was able to rinse the beetles and put the eggs and infected substrate outside to freeze. Obviously I can't do that this time, so do you experts have any suggestions as to how to best proceed? In advance...thanks for your advise!!! 

I've read they can't live without humidity. If your humidity is that high, they should be okay without a moisture source for a while to kill off the mites. You can remove the lid to get it to air out.

 

[azygous]

Yes, it's as simple as what Sub just suggested. Find a warm, dry spot and remove the lid. The mites will dry up and disappear.

I sympathize with you. There's nothing scarier and more disgusting than a mite infestation. Next time you change the substrate, do make sure you've oven treated it to kill mites and mite eggs. I place it in a large sheet cake pan and bake it at 300F for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent the edges from toasting.

Sometimes microwaving doesn't heat the grain uniformly, and you have eggs survive the process. Same with trying to freeze it. You need to have it frozen below zero F for a prolonged period to do any good. (Don't freeze the worms and beetles, though!)

 

[aart]

Yes, it's as simple as what Sub just suggested. Find a warm, dry spot and remove the lid. The mites will dry up and disappear.

I sympathize with you. There's nothing scarier and more disgusting than a mite infestation. Next time you change the substrate, do make sure you've oven treated it to kill mites and mite eggs. I place it in a large sheet cake pan and bake it at 300F for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent the edges from toasting.

Sometimes microwaving doesn't heat the grain uniformly, and you have eggs survive the process. Same with trying to freeze it. You need to have it frozen below zero F for a prolonged period to do any good. (Don't freeze the worms and beetles, though!)

Will this drying kill the mite eggs too or just make them go dormant?

I took your advice as recommended and heated my bran in the oven....it smelled wonderful and gave peace of mind.