Mealworm farming

[Kusanar]

Do you keep the boxes outdoors? Do you have problems with any other mealworm predators getting in?

I have mine in my barn in a closed room, that said, there are mice in there which I have heard like to snack on meal worms, I keep mine in a Tupperware with no lid, but they are on top of an upside down 5 gallon bucket. I haven't had any problems with anything bothering the worms except for a tiny spider that caught one of the smaller (1/4 inch or smaller) worms and hauled it up into its web somehow, that was more funny than anything....

 

[Cluckies]

I keep mine in an unused room in the house. about the food, I've been giving mine apples. So I would check them every 2-3 days, take out the skins that were left and replace the apple. So today I went and checked on them instead of waiting a couple days, I put apples in last night and they were already totally eaten by today. So you can do apples in the summer, just depends on how quickly they eat them, just keep an eye on things and make sure the apples are removed before they are moldy.

 

[Lynn Manes]

Nope, in my barn. You could keep it in the garage. If I kept it outdoors there'd be so many predators, pest, mold, contamination, etc I assume.

I don't have any predator problems with the mealworms in my barn. Just sprinkle DE around and keep the doors closed and it's all good.

Just thought I'd jump in here, if you don't mind, to let you know we keep ours in the house. Currently their Sterilite drawer is sitting on my livingroom coffee table. The worms nor the beetles ever crawl out. They live in their own little world, and I don't see any signs they realize that anyone or anything exists around them.I know it probably sounds a bit crazy to put them where we have them, but we don't entertain or have folks dropping by, so with well over 100°temps here daily, these critters live comfortably in our ac home

 

[snow5164]

I tried to read the whole thread, forgive me if I missed this question, but why does everyone use bran ?? I was told my chicken feed would work and I have lots of it . I have lots of beetles after 2 months so I think it's working well. Also I was told to use leaf like food ( kale ,dandylion leaves , beat leaves) because they eat the whole thing and it doesn't mold.

 

[Kusanar]

I tried to read the whole thread, forgive me if I missed this question, but why does everyone use bran ?? I was told my chicken feed would work and I have lots of it . I have lots of beetles after 2 months so I think it's working well. Also I was told to use leaf like food ( kale ,dandylion leaves , beat leaves) because they eat the whole thing and it doesn't mold.

Chicken feed can work, but any medications can harm the worms and I was looking at chicken feed the other day and several had DE added, that could definitely hurt the worms.

 

[snow5164]

Oh really ? Never heard of that but I buy my feed from a feed store , they mix it themselves , there's no DE in it and it is unmedicated .i guess the proof it's ok is in the beetles!!!

Thanks

 

[aart]

Oh really ? Never heard of that but I buy my feed from a feed store , they mix it themselves , there's no DE in it and it is unmedicated .i guess the proof it's ok is in the beetles!!!

Thanks

I'd ask specifically whether it has any DE, most grain does to protect it in storage.

 

[EmmB]

Hello
This is my first post on this forum....regarding freezing the oat bran that I use to feed my mealies......does this definitely kill all grain mites that may be present or would they simply hatch out again once at room temperature?
I had a nightmare with grain mites so all advice will be hugely appreciated, I read microwaving them killed them all off , so which is best??? Freezing or microwaving??
Thank you all in advance xx

 

[aart]

Hello

This is my first post on this forum....regarding freezing the oat bran that I use to feed my mealies......does this definitely kill all grain mites that may be present or would they simply hatch out again once at room temperature?
I had a nightmare with grain mites so all advice will be hugely appreciated, I read microwaving them killed them all off , so which is best??? Freezing or microwaving??
Thank you all in advance xx

Neither.....unless you have one of the 'sub zero' freezers.
Microwave doesn't heat evenly enough.

Oven at 300F for 30-45 minutes, with a few stirrings in there, is the best way to go.

 

[AmandaP15]

PLEASE HELP!!!
CAN SOMEONE CALL ME I BREED MEALIES AND THEY GOT infested with fruit flies and I see tiny babies walking on the fruit. I can't write it all here so if anyone has time to help me please call me 425-418-4700 my name is Amanda