Mealworm farming

[DMRippy]

Well just dumped, sifted, filtered, cleaned and put new wheat bran after 2 years!! Hope I did not KILL MY ENTIRE FARM??? What have others done to filter all the used Wheat Bran that is really dust! ? I used a regular spaghetti strainer (My wife would kill me if she knew LOL!!) My formula was to leave 20% or so and strain out all the old dried up foods, materials, casing etc. Any specific processes you all do?

Thanks in advance Steve

Don't toss the frass, there are eggs and babies in it. I keep it for a few months till they are big enough to sift out..... we will not tell your wife about the strainer....

 

[Mavrk]

I apologize if this has been covered, but do mealworms (in all life stages) need to have light? I know they mostly feed in the dark, but do they need light for any reason? I plan on keeping them in the closet with my water heater and HVAC unit (housed in the basement) so they will stay warmer. I can put a light on a timer if they need it, otherwise my plan is to just leave it dark.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I apologize if this has been covered, but do mealworms (in all life stages) need to have light? I know they mostly feed in the dark, but do they need light for any reason? I plan on keeping them in the closet with my water heater and HVAC unit (housed in the basement) so they will stay warmer. I can put a light on a timer if they need it, otherwise my plan is to just leave it dark.

Nope, no light needed; they will be quite happy in the dark. Sounds like you have a great place to keep them.

 

[hombrenorte]

Hey guys, I have the same concern about lifelessnes. My mealies were doing great, eating potatoes, oatmeal, fish food pellets, carrots and newspaper. They were very active everytime I checked in on them. I chaned there bedding every two weeks and there was no mold just their droppings at the bottom of the container. I changed the veggies peices every few days and they were crawling all over the newspaper. Then one day almost all of them turned over on their backs and have been like that for about a week now. The move if I touch them, but it is almost like they are in a deep sleep. I don't think they are moving or eating or anything now. How many days does it take for the larva to transform into pupae once the process begins. They are slightly cooler then ideal. The temp dips to about 62 at night and 65 during the day. It is very humid though. Any insight would be great!

 

[Kassaundra]

Hey guys, I have the same concern about lifelessnes. My mealies were doing great, eating potatoes, oatmeal, fish food pellets, carrots and newspaper. They were very active everytime I checked in on them. I chaned there bedding every two weeks and there was no mold just their droppings at the bottom of the container. I changed the veggies peices every few days and they were crawling all over the newspaper. Then one day almost all of them turned over on their backs and have been like that for about a week now. The move if I touch them, but it is almost like they are in a deep sleep. I don't think they are moving or eating or anything now. How many days does it take for the larva to transform into pupae once the process begins. They are slightly cooler then ideal. The temp dips to about 62 at night and 65 during the day. It is very humid though. Any insight would be great!

The meal worms themselves are less active or the beetles? The mealworms get less active as they near pupating.

 

[Mavrk]

Nope, no light needed; they will be quite happy in the dark. Sounds like you have a great place to keep them.

Thanks. I figured they didn't but thought I would ask. I am going to be following your method with the 10 gallon aquarium and wheat bran. I plan on heating the bran in the oven first for maybe 15 minutes at 200 (or lower if my oven does that).

ETA: I just checked, and my oven can go down to 100 F. So I can do the 130 for 15 minutes that you had recommended. Are those numbers still accurate?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Yes. There are very few life forms that could live at 130+ for more than 15 minutes and none that are a threat to our mealworms. I just loved what DMRippy had to say about it:

 

[SteveBaz]

I use a RED HEATER LIGHT BULB 1500 watts I think for light and heat and it seems to be good for them with no bad effects anyway!

 

[hombrenorte]

Hey Kassaundra!, I'v just started my first batch. It's almost a month old. I just have larva right now. How long of a period is it once the larva start slowing down until they turn into pupa? Thanks

 

[Kassaundra]

Hey Kassaundra!, I'v just started my first batch. It's almost a month old. I just have larva right now. How long of a period is it once the larva start slowing down until they turn into pupa? Thanks

If you have had them a month I bet they are about to start pupating. It is hard to tell how long I have always had a mixed age all in one bin set up and they all look alike, not like I can identify or name them!!! lol lol lol though I did name my first two pupa Adam and Eve.