Mealworm farming

[hannakat]

Stage Time*

Egg Incubation: 4-19 days (usually 4-7). Another source says 20-40 days
Larva: 10 weeks. Visible after about a week
Pupa: 6-18 (18-24?) days
Beetle and Egg Laying: 8-12 weeks (followed by death). Egg laying starts 4-19 days (average 12) after emergence


So from egg to beetle it takes about 16 weeks (4 months) and then the beetles live 2-3 more months.

Hope this helps!

 

[OwensMom]

Well guys, I have a huge number of pupa BUT many of them seem to have dried up!! PITTS Our humidity is low here so do you think that I should put the lid on the container loosely. I leave the bin open now. Some of my older beetles have died and I don't see any baby worms. I know that I have to be patient. It is so hard.
Amy, we seem to be in the same place. Hang in there
I put beet leaves in the worm bin today and they seem to be not interested in them. Tough, when you are a worm you have to eat what is available. I want to try the beets next. Won't it be a hoot if the worms do turn purple!!!
Let us know what happens when you feed the beets. I'm hoping purple!!!

 

[LibertyChick]

Quote:
Can you give them beets, not just the beet greens? Wouldn't that make them more purple? A purple worm would definitely be much easier to find.

That's my next experiment since the stems and greens didn't faze em.... rubbing my hands together....

I have some in my fridge right now. Will give it a try.

 

[LibertyChick]

Does anyone else have problems ordering from the wormman? I went to the website, registered and tried to order some mealworms. I have only one item in the cart and I can't seem to get to the "checkout". It's funny that the website says when you are ready to checkout, just click on the "checkout" button...well, there is NO "checkout" button anywhere on the page. I even put the words checkout in my firefox browser to find the word on the page and it only found the words "checkout" where it says to click on the checkout button. Where is this button?

 

[hannakat]

OwensMom ~ Have you tried Oil of Olay?

Honestly though, I'd try upping the humidity a little by putting on the lid (loosely as you said).


The worms will be getting some beet roots tomorrow. I've been enjoying them so much and didn't want to share the 'purple effect' with them yet. hahahaaaaa....

Haven't notice any coloring effect with the stems and leaves although they eat the stems so quickly I can hardly believe it. I put cucumber peels in also and those are GONE too.


LibertyChick ~ I think someone ordered from them but I'm not sure who it was. Hopefully they'll pass through soon.......

 

[OwensMom]

Libertychick, I ordered from exoticnutrition.com and had no problems. The worms are hearty and active

 

[Klwright1122]

Crazy huhn on BYC sells also--she will include all 3 levels of growth...beetles, pupa and worms. Contact her via email.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
Yes, I tried to order from him, too. Couldn't get the check out button to work either, emailed him and 4 months later still have not heard from him. Soooooo, I ordered from Speedy Worm and have had good results.

Thank you, Hannakat for your info on the beetle life expectancy. I could not remember and haven't had time to check into it.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I tried finding her on the search but it said nothing matched.

 

[LibertyChick]

Quote:
Thanks for the info. I ordered from them. I was very happy to see that they have all Organic mealworms.