Mealworm farming

[CartierChicken]

And here is an example that explains that they can fly up to a half mile in search of food. So it seems they only fly if food is not available. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/livestock/livestock/camm/camm_files/poultry/pch10c_03.pdf

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Well, that explains everything! LOL
I would not trust their info. They tell me all kinds of stuff all the time. Only an hour drive from me and my old stomping grounds, though I never graduated. Couldn't take the nonsense. The Clemson link, not the other.

It must take a lot to get them hungry because I forgot to feed mine for a week (hate the way I changed them to the other side of the room) and just went to check on them. I swear a few sat up and begged when I opened the top! There was no food anywhere in there! I gave them some carrots and broccoli and they went to town!

Maybe it is a different kind of beetle? Isn't there 2 kinds of darkling beetles?

Has to be! It says they are attracted to light in the article. Mine hate light! When I have opened the lid at night and use a flashlight to see inside better they all scurry away from the light. They are fine with noise and me peering in but hate the lights.

 

[hannakat]

I sent Julio Ferrer an email asking if he has information on the Tenebrio molitor.


In the meantime....for the sake of this thread..... I will sacrifice some of my beetles by dropping them off our deck.

It will be a sink or swim, oh wait, fly or die situation

A full report of findings will be given later!

 

[CartierChicken]

Quote:
Well that would be plain wasteful You need to put the suckers in isolation, starve them, then dangle a potato a meter above them, and see if they fly to it.

 

[hannakat]

Report of Findings RE: "Do my beetles fly or not" test.


First test: Let robust beetles fall from height of 5' into bathtub.
Second test: Let different group of robust beetles fall from height of 14' into grass.

Findings: The Tenebrio molitor did NOT fly. Nor did it even bounce upon landing. *thunk* One of the beetles did OPEN it's ineffective little wings but they didn't even change the direction of its descent.

wish I could record it .....

 

[In His Service]

Were the Spice girls there to "care for" the crash test dummy beetles?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I want to thank you for your sacrifice of the beetles.

You would think 14' would be encouragement and opportunity to "spread their wings".
I was pretty sure they would not fly but then maybe yours were too well fed to fly!

Maybe only the skinny hungry ones can get lift off?

 

[hannakat]

Amazingly, they were able to walk away from the fall. There were no indications of even a broken leg

DH did go down to see if assitance was needed but they had disappeared into the world of the unknown. These darkling beetles were not built to live in the wild.

Maybe I should put out a piece of bread? Dang...should have thought of that yesterday!!! That's okay....bye bye beetles, goodbye ~ ~


Well, today I am taking 2 beetles out of the bin and putting them in isolation for a few days without food or water.....see if I can FORCE them to fly. There will be bread on the landing site this time.

 

[CartierChicken]

Quote:
I'm not convinced that bread is a big enough motivator.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Quote:
If it moves, it doesn't have a prayer around my girls. They scared up a toad the other night and were all standing staring at it as I came bolting across the yard to rescue the toad and move him outside their forage area.