Mealworm farming

[beverly evans]

Quote: Looks like it, but I don;t know--I got 4 out and there are quite a few more in there. Now how did these things find there way in there, a 20 gallon aquarium in my guest bathroom. I have never, ever seen a caterpillar or insect like this in my house. OMG!
It's a larval form of something. I know, duh! But keep some in a jar with the same thing they've been eating and see what the morph into. Just for grins and future meal worms. They are also good chicken protein. : )

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: Looks like it, but I don;t know--I got 4 out and there are quite a few more in there. Now how did these things find there way in there, a 20 gallon aquarium in my guest bathroom. I have never, ever seen a caterpillar or insect like this in my house. OMG!
It's a larval form of something. I know, duh! But keep some in a jar with the same thing they've been eating and see what the morph into. Just for grins and future meal worms. They are also good chicken protein. : )
The expert Gallo de Cielo weighed in and solved it--he's dead on. He said they get in there from the shipment.

They are beetle larvae from the family Dermestidae. It would be hard to know what species they are from the pics and how much of a threat they are to the Tenebrio. Some species are pretty bad to deal with and others are supposedly benign enough to put into a mealworm colony to clean the mess. I would think they'd be in direct competition with the mealworms and would get rid of them. You could either pull out all the dermestids or all the mealworms, depending on what the stages are and which would be easiest. If you try to just remove the dermestids, be vigilant over the next month to find any new larvae.

 

[fadfodeh]

Hello Everyone
I live in a country where you cannot purchase mealworms from mealworm farms.
Is there a way to start your own mealworm farm from no previous mealworms for my flock?

Thank you

 

[beverly evans]

Hello Everyone
I live in a country where you cannot purchase mealworms from mealworm farms.
Is there a way to start your own mealworm farm from no previous mealworms for my flock?

Thank you

One thing you can do is harvest black soldier fly lavae. At least this is a species of fly that exists in the US. I don't know it they exist where you are. Google black soldier flies as feed for chickens. Good luck!

 

[kubotafoot]

I would think getting mealworms from your yard would work, but I am not 100% sure. They live here in semi damp areas under dead wood and quite often I find them when I rototill the garden. Grab them before your hens get to them and you're on a roll.

 

[suebee]

Hello Everyone
I live in a country where you cannot purchase mealworms from mealworm farms.
Is there a way to start your own mealworm farm from no previous mealworms for my flock?

Thank you

Most pet stores carry them for lizard food. They keep them in a refrigerator so you have to ask the staff.

 

[beverly evans]

Quote: Suebee, This person comes from an Arabic or at least middle eastern country where lizards as pets don't exist and I'm guessing neither do pet shops.
fadfodeh, Can you get an American pet magazine made for reptile fanciers? There you may find advertisements for various kinds of insects as food for lizards or chickens and could have some mailed to you, wherever you are. lol

 

[Chickengirl1304]

My first bin has A TON of worms, and beetles. I don't see many pupae at all. Why is this?

I want to start 2 more bins, how do I do this? Just split the contence of my original bin in 1/3s?

 

[subhanalah]

What I would do is take the beetles and out them into a new bin with fresh everything. Do the same with as many larva as you can. Then leave the old container to sit and the babies will hatch and grow. Boom, three colonies at different stages.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

What I would do is take the beetles and out them into a new bin with fresh everything. Do the same with as many larva as you can. Then leave the old container to sit and the babies will hatch and grow. Boom, three colonies at different stages.

Thank you