Mealworm farming

[kuntrychick]

What exactly is the difference in the regular mealworms, the mini ones, & the jumbos? I think I've read something about the jumbos being hybrid something & don't reproduce?

 

[oneofseven]

Amy,
Did you raise those worms you sold me in "wacky-weed". My birds could not get enough of them. After I gave my 7 birds 100 worms, they followed me for 20 minutes asking for more.

. Thank you.

 

[dlee]

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I've yet to hear of anyone regretting starting them. I know I haven't.
Care: Too easy. Housing: Anything with slick sides that's 4" or more high. Selection: Any old regular ones. Just don't get the jumbos. Temps: They'll live even in the fridge but you want them at 70-100 if you can. 60 will really slow down reproduction but you can keep them in stasis that way till spring. Or put them somewhere it gets warmer a lot like over the fridge or close to the stove. For some people the bathroom is a good place. My washroom stays pretty warm because the gas hot water heater is in there.

I found a good way to keep my worms warm in freezing weather as I keep them in my carport/with inclosed sides & one end. Body heat pads do the job. I cover part of the worm bed with them. They just snuggle under them.

 

[kuntrychick]

For me mealworms serve double duty....feed 'em to my chickens & fish with them!

 

[oneofseven]

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I read the jumbos are given a hormone to supress the pupa stage, thus they get LARGE. I don't know about the minis.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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That is neat. Since I keep my colonies together I can't tell if anyone likes something over anything else. They do not jump on carrots like they do apples, bananas, watermelon or other fruits though.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Oh, was that the plant growing wild in my yard I fed them???

No, all I feed them is dandelion, clover or plantain from the yard. Otherwise, apple has been the mainstay for the past 6 weeks since that was the local growing produce. I guess they had a good taste from that. Mine devour them, too and ask for more. I really have to get a video of my Ameraucanas and Marans in the grow up tractor attacking me for some. They free range now but if they see the dish they are all over me!

Mealies are yummy treats, for sure!!!

 

[jwcutt]

My beetles seem to prefer celery, while my worms seem to like cabbage leaves more. My setup has only been going for a month tho, and lately I am getting about 50 - 80 pupae per day and about 30 turning to beetles a day. Seems im almost out of the larvae, but my pupae bin is loaded, as is my beetle bin.

just my 2 cents.

Jason

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Always nice to hear about everyone's growing colonies, Jason!
Those pupae always seem to be more in abundance for a while but then the beetles take over and for months you think your colony is doing nothing. Then weeks later you run your hands through the substrate and think holy cow! I got worms!

 

[gale65]

Does anyone heat from above with a lamp? I hadn't put anything in and our house is about 72 (probably a bit cooler on the floor though) and nothing is happening. I have had beetles for a few weeks but no baby worms yet. So I wasn't sure if maybe it's too cool. I have a 4W reptile heater but it says to only use it on glass and I have them in a plastic shoebox.