Mealworm farming

[azygous]

Meal worms handle crowding well. Don't worry about having too many as long as they have plenty of meal to eat and the frass doesn't displace it.

As long as they're consuming all the veggie matter you give them, it's probably the right amount.

The temperature sounds about right. They will develop at a steady pace, faster at 80 degrees, though.

Your worms are darker because they're reaching maturity. They will pupate soon.

The substrate, bran and oats, is courser than the frass. When I'm pretty sure all the worms have reached the size that they won't sift out with the frass, I sift everything through a strainer, and the worms and uneaten meal won't go though it. Usually you'll know it's time to sift out the frass because the substrate will give off a slightly unpleasant odor. After sifting, you'll be left with a lot of worms and a small amount of uneaten meal. The frass you can toss or use on plants.

I then add fresh bran and replace the worms. I don't think occasional handling of the worms bothers them much, nor shaking through a sifter. They have a very elemental awareness.

As for appearing "clean" or dusty, I imagine it's due to the substrate they're raised in. I've never noticed my worms being "dusty".

What are your plans for the beetles when they morph from the pupa stage? Are you just going to keep on with the one container? It's fine if you are.

 

[jenneverett]

First off let me say WELCOME!

now to answer some of your questions.
The container can hold around 15 to 20 thousand easy.
the worms dont need daily visits unless as you stated they do eat all the carrot or Apple you provide.
I cover my worms with a blanket and have a shop light inside to add warmth.
At around 80 degres they do great.
as for sifting them just bump the side of the sifter until they are easy to pour out and continue.
The color indicates the maturity. ..The darker they are the older they are.

 

[kendles]

azygous - wow, thanks! As for the Beetles. I have the large "condo" for the larvae, then I have a little box to put the pupa in. Then when they hatch to Beetles they will go in the top drawer of a 3 Drawer Sterlite thing with a shallow layer of organic oat and a screen attached to an opening in the bottom of it so the eggs can fall into the wheat bran prepared drawer below. I plan to set up a second set of drawers for different time frames - like unit (A) for 1st generation - weeks 0-4 (B) for 2nd generation - weeks 5-9 then back to (A) this way I have a pretty good idea of how old they are. Not sure if this matters, but I am sort of compulsive about "things" I'm not real sure how that works, but I'm thinking that through. As for them looking dusty. Let me see if I can clarify that. When I got them delivered, they were clean, looked like they were raised in a glass bowl with no bedding. They were shiny and bright, sort of the color or a tangerine *YUMMY* but now after being in the substrate that I have them in oats / wheat bran - they have lost their luster to so speak and no longer the attractive, bright and shiny creatures that landed on my door step just a week ago, today. I know that their lack of glossiness does not effect their nutritional value, I was just curious, how they (Rainbow Meal Worms) raised them where they are so *pretty*

I've never heard the phrase "They have a very elemental awareness"
*What does that mean?
ok... that was creepy

Leslie

 

[kendles]

jenneverette - I was replying and my macbook just *POOF* locked up :-( gotta love firefox
anyway, as I was saying. I have covered them, doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. It's 62 degrees in my house right now. Windows, doors and curtain closed. Does the shop light "light" seem to bother your mealies? Mine are not real fond of light, they take off running - like little vampires. I am going to try the heat mat again, it's not the best, but better than nuttin' I guess. I read somewhere someone using a reptile heater (?)
It's after midnight and I have to step out to watch the meteor storm they say we are suppose to be able to see tonight.
Good night, and thanks for the information and the welcome.
Leslie

 

[beverly evans]

I wasn't thinking that not everybody lived in Maryland. We do live close to the D.C. Area known for its humidity, but nothing like some of you have. I should have explained that I do not keep my worms outdoors. My experience is summer, indoors (garage) on average, 85-95+ degrees , 60-80% humidity. I take extra precaution then by not covering the farm and using only carrot. I leave out any really wet greens. So for us, hot and humid has not been a factor. When I started, it was easy for me to get a little carried away during the winter using more water sources such as lettuce, apples and such. The farm would take a dive and I would respond by thinking things were to dry and add more wet food. Over time I learned that indoor winter temperatures, 65-70 degrees and to much water source was not a good thing.

Thanks for your welcome. I will help when I can and be quiet when I should.

Your little mealworm avatar is so "aprapo". (It's French and I can't spell it.)

 

[jenneverett]

as for the elemental awareness it means that they don't have thoughts or any real intelligence.... they are pure basic instinct. they eat, reproduce and that's it. you will notice that they can tell when the carrot is put in and if thirsty they all head over to get it, but that is an instinct also.
i don't really think the light bothers them much but i have a seat in the garage that is 7 ft long that we sit on to put on our shoes, my mealies are on that bench and the shop light is next to the tub on the bench seat. then i covered them like your kid would make a tent in his or her room... i wrapped the blanket around the bench sealing in the heat and stopping any heat loss. i don't think they get much direct light but for them it is always lit up a bit. i do have paper towel rolls cut in half and laid in there everywhere.
the condo is a good plan, i started doing it that way but i am way way way to busy to manage that system so now i have two bins and just let them do their thing unmolested. but as a hands on person i think i enjoyed looking after my project and i take pride in doing things as well as i can.
i do believe the rainbow farm washes the mealies before they ship because if you remember the worms were in a bag or box with just a wadded up brown paper to eat in shipping. it is also clear that as bugs nature equipped them to handle getting wet now and then.
again Welcome to our discussion and post your results and photos! we all want to see our members succeed!

 

[KefirGuy]

As long as the chicken avatars don't eat it one night. Oh noooo!

 

[KefirGuy]

Kindles, sounds like you are doing everything right. It's a little cold but you say you are using a heat pad. I agree your worms may be getting ready to pupate. You may see some curling up, that's a sign. It does take time and some worms just hang on a long time but eventually nature takes it's course. Some will just get old die and turn black. Then, when you have pupa, I promise you will be concerned why they are not becoming beetles. After awhile you say egads, what should I do with all of these beetles? I don't know about the dusty worms. They are white when they shed but I have not experienced dusty worms.

 

[kendles]

Posting from iPhone so I'll be brief. The heat mat that I am using is not getting warm enough. It only raises the temperature about 10 degrees above room temp. It's designed for germinating seeds for my hydro garden, thought I would try it anyway.

If I can figure out how to post pictures of my set up I would love to show it off. Very simple and manageable. But then, I only have just shy of 2,000 larvae and as of today 5 pupae which I am looking to buy more and can't find them. And no Beetles, yet

 

[jenneverett]

Posting from iPhone so I'll be brief. The heat mat that I am using is not getting warm enough. It only raises the temperature about 10 degrees above room temp. It's designed for germinating seeds for my hydro garden, thought I would try it anyway.

If I can figure out how to post pictures of my set up I would love to show it off. Very simple and manageable. But then, I only have just shy of 2,000 larvae and as of today 5 pupae which I am looking to buy more and can't find them. And no Beetles, yet

I had started to find pupea fairly soon but them turning into beetles took a few weeks, I only started my second bin with pupea moved from bin 1. Now at 5-6 weeks in I have plenty of beetles. As fas as I know you cannot buy just beetles.