MealWorm Beatles

[bobgildolf]

All sounds simple enough, thanks

[Kurt]

You're welcome and good luck.

[1beataway]

I set this up in hopes of having mealworm babies...I think I killed the mealworms. I was sick and kept forgetting to give them fresh carrots, and then I wasn't home a few days and didn't realize I wouldn't be.

Oh well...I'll try again in a few weeks.

[Kurt]

Did you ever have beetles? If so, you probably have mealworms coming your way.

[1beataway]

Did you ever have beetles? If so, you probably have mealworms coming your way.

No. It looks like some were going to become beetles soon though. I don't know any of the terminology, but, there were things in there that didn't look like the mealworms.

[Kurt]

Pupa.

[1beataway]

To my surprise, I opened up my bathroom cabinet to find at least 7 beetles and 1 pupa. I really thought everything in there was dead, but I hadn't tossed them out yet in hope (though at that time it was more denial). So 7 out of 15 isn't bad, considering I completely forgot about them for several days and they had no carrots. Two of the beetles didn't look the best, but when I put fresh carrots in there, they both went straight for it, so maybe they'll be ok. We will see.

So I know it was a Saturday when I started the colony, so that means almost exactly 3 or 4 weeks from refrigerated mealworms to beetles (I think 3 weeks). Anyone know how long from beetles to baby-making time?

[froggiez]

I meant to ask, should I put them in the fridge if I am trying to wait for them to be beetles n such or is room temp good? which is quickest way to get more worms?

[Kurt]

Room temperature. You put them in the fridge and nothing will ever happen. Same goes for waxworms. People usually refridgerate these insects to keep them from maturing, and in my opinion does more harm than good to your waxworms. The waxwoms I produce are top notch and much more active than the store bought ones.