Need Help with Mealworm Larva ?

[Ebony]

Hi there, I can't think what could be wrong but try moving them.

I keep my meal worms in wheat bran. I put in potato and carrot. They are in clear plastic containers(don't know if you have them but they are those file type draw containers that have up to 4 draws) in a room thats around 20/21 degrees. The room has normal day lighting and even gets a bit of sun at one part of the day. When the worms turn to Pupa then I put them in another clear plastic container with the wheat bran, they don't eat but its there ready for when they do. I have had the odd one die but not many. I can't think what could be going wrong but try moving them. Make sure they are dry. They get enough moisture from the potato and carrot.
I hope this will help in some way. Let me no how you get on. All the best.

[SludgeMunkey]

In addition to keeping them in bran (I use rolled oats...easier to sift worms out of) mealworms and superworms need water. easiest way to get this to them without spoiling the bedding is to add a piece of carrot on a plastic margarine lid. You need to change out the carrot every few days. Apple or potato can be used for this too, but they go bad much faster.

Please note I rarely feed mealworms to my critters, I raise them for my wild birds.

Here is the site I refer to for my beetle larvae farming information:

Raising Mealworms:Everything you always wanted to know (and more)

[Ebony]

Thanks Johnny, I will try the rolled oats, I didn't realise they could eat that.
Is it better nutritionaly? How offen do you change the substratum?

[SludgeMunkey]

I never do a full bedding change, you lose too many eggs and hatchlings that way in my opinion. I sift it out about once a month or so to get the worst of the droppings and tiny leftovers out, and then ad a cup or two more of oats or wheat bran, whichever I happen to have on hand. About once a month I throw in a small handful of fish flakes or dry dog food too. I use the siftings as a starter culture for getting the new bed going- I rotate three bins this way. The siftings almost always have eggs and new hatchlings in with them.