I used to grow mealworms to feed large numbers of arthropods. I think that we grew about 5-10 lbs a week with about a dozen or so 10-gallon aquaria. I agree, it really probably isn't practical for most people with larger flocks, especially if you live in a colder climate. It might be worth it for you Ariel301 if you had a large enough container with your warmer climate. Colony growth is much faster when they are warm (they seem to love 100 F).
mrsbos, the trick is to keep the colony dry. I've never really had problems with feeding so much that it ever started rotting. But definitely, if it starts to rot, remove it. The beetles lay their eggs in the substrate (wheat bran) and not on the vegetable material. I also never separate larvae, pupa and beetles. There's not much point in it. You can see by the pics that I don't have much of a problem of worms or eggs being eaten by beetles. You also don't need to remove the dead beetle carcasses. They really don't last long and the materials are used by the successive generations.
Inkheart, thanks for the compliment!
mrsbos, the trick is to keep the colony dry. I've never really had problems with feeding so much that it ever started rotting. But definitely, if it starts to rot, remove it. The beetles lay their eggs in the substrate (wheat bran) and not on the vegetable material. I also never separate larvae, pupa and beetles. There's not much point in it. You can see by the pics that I don't have much of a problem of worms or eggs being eaten by beetles. You also don't need to remove the dead beetle carcasses. They really don't last long and the materials are used by the successive generations.
Inkheart, thanks for the compliment!
