Mealworm farming

[kubotafoot]

My newest pics.

each plate has 60 or more under it... just beetles and pupea






these are eggs! ( and just a few frass )

Sorry....Just learning my way around a computer and don't understand all the options to post, but hope this shows the egg photos amidst other ones. (2 up from these words....)

 

[jenneverett]

The eggs are visible but hard to find in the normal substrate, as my beetles are in a dark tent and have the plates to scurry around on I was happy to see the eggs plainly visible. I will take a macro img tonight.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yep, it takes awhile but you'll figure it out...... and you can edit the quoted post to eliminate some of the pics and/or text!
There's a setting somewhere, under preferences maybe, that you can check a box to automatically quote quotes within quotes...lol

The eggs are visible but hard to find in the normal substrate, as my beetles are in a dark tent and have the plates to scurry around on I was happy to see the eggs plainly visible. I will take a macro img tonight.

Thanks Jen! I think I can a l m o s t see them...a macro shot would be great, I love them.

 

[dstinett]

I had same problem. Now I use plain cornmeal as bedding, bread and potato for food and humidity. Colony stays so clean. I only have to clean it 2x year. Its been gnat free for over 2 years now

 

[ContessaKris]

What is the length of the life cycle of mealworms? I guess I could google this. But since I'm here... I have some mealworms, they're growing bigger. Just wondered how long until they're Beetles and how long until Beetles are laying and so on...

Also, I was removing shriveled apples when I find them and replacing. Should I be leaving those in? Someone mentioned eggs get laid in there... What's the best foods to put in there, plus I DO NOT want fruit flies...

 

[jenneverett]

Mine arrived on 4-17 and now a month later i have beetles galore.
I have kept them in a heated tent in the garage that keeps them in a dark environment the way they like it.
I have stopped separating them after getting several hundred pupae for my second bin.
Now I simply feed and water them (add carrots).

 

[aart]

What is the length of the life cycle of mealworms? I guess I could google this.

But since I'm here... I have some mealworms, they're growing bigger. Just wondered how long until they're Beetles and how long until Beetles are laying and so on...

Also, I was removing shriveled apples when I find them and replacing. Should I be leaving those in? Someone mentioned eggs get laid in there... What's the best foods to put in there, plus I DO NOT want fruit flies...

Click here for good info on life cycle timing, depends on heat.

Carrots are good, less likely to mold and/or draw fruit flies.

 

[jenneverett]

new macro pics of the eggs. they look like fine grains of sand. fixing dinner right now but will take a few more with a dime in the midst.

 

[aart]

Put a few of the eggs on the dime and use the flash or get it right under a bright light.

 

[jenneverett]

here is the set up and some pics