Mealworm farming

[Epreciado]

There is a lot of different methods. People will not feed them for a few day and then drop a carrot or apple piece in there and sake of what is gathered on there after fifteen minutes. Others just wait till they grow big enough to be able to pick out by hand. The options is yours.

 

[ScottM]

What is the best way to lure those last remaining tiny larva out of my bin.  I've been watching and cleaning them out for about two months now - but I think there may still be a few left in there. 

I swear by this tool

http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=49554&cat=2,2200,33264

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
THAT LOOKS AWESOME!

 

[NCGrammie]

I swear by this tool
http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=49554&cat=2,2200,33264

Ohhhhhhh I gotta get one of these!! My container is getting deep in frass, I can see this is just going to continue to build up...how do you all handle that part, I'm afraid if I try to get rid of it somehow, I will throw out some of my worms.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I swear by this tool
http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=49554&cat=2,2200,33264

That looks nice I would think the smaller worms would still fall through the holes though?

I've been using my colander - maybe if I use the strainer that would work better. I just want to be done with that drawer!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I keep the frass in a 5gal bucket for a couple of months and then sift. That get the vast majority of babies and eggs that are in the frass. By 2 months they are big enough to sift out.

The key is to make sure you don't have any beetles in the frass or you will be doing it again, and again to get them all.

 

[NYcue]

I'm considering meal worm farming but I have serious doubts the wife will allow me to do this in the house. The garage is a maybe. However, my garage in the winter will average between 40f and 60f degrees. Would it be recommended to heat the container I keep them in? If so... how? thanks...

 

[bobbieschicks]

I finally got out as many tiny larva as I could find and just dumped the rest of it in the run for the girls to have a go at it. They must have found some larva or beetles because they were all over it fast and pecking away.

How do you refresh the drawers with wheat bran when it's primarily frass? Should I be removing everything and starting fresh or is it just okay to add a layer of new bran on top of all the frass and old bedding?

 

[RainbowMealworm]

OK-- I haven't been able to read everything here about this infestation..but it sounds like I need to dump this colony? I have two bins, one with worms/pupae/beetles, and one with tiny baby worms/eggs/frass. The baby worm bin is totally infested, and I have started to see some bugs in the beetle bin. What if I keep it all outside? The little bugs are harmless, other than infesting my house, right? I know that the meal worms will reproduce and grow more slowly in cooler temperatures, but otherwise is it OK to have them outside?

I understand microwaving the wheat bran before using, but is it possible that the bugs come with the meal worms? How would you prevent contaminating a colony that way?

We recommend you sterilize the meal at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours to kill grain mites and meal moths, it will still keep its nutritional value for your worms.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: 2 HOURS

30 mins would probably get it. 15 mins is all I have ever done. Anything that can live above 140 deg for 15-20 mins can live on at my place.

EDITED to add I cook them at 200 degrees for 15-20 mins so the temp of the BRAN is 130-140 degrees. I just let them cool down in the oven.