Mealworm farming

[CluckyJay]

Two beetles and I meant freaky-looking roach, not bed bug, LOL.

 

[hannakat]

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Hi! There will be a percentage of larva that die. How many is 'quite a few'? Keeping them in plain wheat flour is interesting! Sounds like you're on your way!


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Maybe test the chick starter first??? If it doesn't fall through then use it...if it just just use oats. You do need the old fashioned rolled oats (not expensive at all). I wouldn't use the pellets though. Yep..you can use the same substrate in all containers.

 

[hannakat]

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Exciting...isn't it?!

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We love those wee wormies!


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Glad it didn't die needlessly!

 

[Klwright1122]

For those of you who store your in the frig...how do you do that? I understand that they should come out weekly and feed...but what do you store them in?

 

[CluckyJay]

Around 100 or so dead. One of the beetles keeps flipping onto its back. Its alive and if I poke it it scurries away. The other one is already getting darker and doesn't flip on its back.

I am killing my mealies?

 

[CluckyJay]

Maybe the whole wheat flour is too fine a substrate? Could it be smothering them?

 

[hannakat]

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I used a butter container and a cottage cheese container containing rolled oats. Poked holes in the lid. If you take them out weekly, you do run the risk of them pupating. I had problems with those pupae either not morphing or morphing into deformed beetles...just wanted to share what happened with mine. Either way, they will eventually die in the fridge if left too long.


CluckyJay ~ Maybe add rolled oats or wheat bran to the mixture and see if that helps. 100/1000 is pretty high

The beetles also do well in rolled oats and can right themselves when they flip cause it gives them something to hold on to. Try putting a bit of paper towel, news paper, and toilet paper roll in for them. They love to hide.

 

[CluckyJay]

Thanks! I'll go check into that now.

 

[Chickangel79]

JUst returned from France and I have white pupae things with curled up legs ! How long before they turn to beetles ? ALso mine appear to be fussy eaters, they don't like carrot, apple, broccoli, cabbage leaf, and find black crusty worms on the potato as if its poisoning them. Any ideas ?

 

[hannakat]

CluckyJay ~ You take the most amazing photos!



Chickangel79 ~ France? Oolala I'm jealous! I'd stick with carrot and celery then go from there. How many worms do you have? The chart of approximate stage length is posted on the first post of this thread....feeling lazy....