MEALWORMS: Why do my darkling beetles look like this?

[Guatesayax81]

I think is normal, some of them are going to have a malformation and why I noticed is the the others are going to eat them so even if they don't look normal I put them together to give a chance to live but the other will eat anyways. But I believe that this probably happens is because when they are changing from worms to pupa they are too close to the rotten fruit so they get an infection.

 

[BeetleBreeder100]

Even tho the pupae aren't eating they need moisture, if too dry they won't morph well.
So keeping some veg in the bin helps with humidity levels and is something for the beetles to eat right away...instead of it's unmorphed brethren.

No no no!!!!! Pupa have to be 100% dry. No fruit, no veggies, not wet paper towel, just 100% dry bedding!! Moisture will kill them. If you put your pupa in a dry bin of bedding, and use a heat mat or heat pad and keep the bedding temp right between 80-85°f, your pupa will start to change so fast you won't be able to keep up!!! Do the same with your worms in a separate bin for worms only, and add some veggie mix. Can't the heat up to 83, and you will start getting 5-10 pupa daily!!!! I also add dry rice to my pupa bedding to pull any excess moisture from the bedding. If you put oats, pecans, cashews, and sunflower seeds, into a blender, grind into powder, add dried white rice, and breadcrumbs. Along with some whole rolled oats and mix it well. Then use that for your worm and beetle bedding/food. Separate pupae, from worms and beetles from pupae twice a day, and keep the beetles at 75-80°f. Follow this and you will have more mealworms and beetles than you can possibly use!!!!! Good Luck!!! Keep It Wormey Beetle Breeders!!!!!