18 replies to this topic

[~EquestrianHammy~]

:o

I am the MAJIX MAN! (I’m not kidding, I spam the group chat with my friends irl saying this, along with “we don’t burn da majix man, so put away your candles!” Yep, referring to the witch burning...)

[~EquestrianHammy~]

I named my pupae “papa”. Yeah, I might change that.

[Robin~]

So, I keep mealworms for my Chester and toothless to eat (toothless only gets them like once every other week). I keep my mealworms in a small bin cage that I made. I really want to start getting some mealworm beetles but it isn’t happening...


Questions
Can I use eco earth for their bedding? (How dry?)
What is the best food for them?
Can mini mealworms breed?
How do I get them to pupate?
How long should it take before they pupate?
Is 250 enough for a breeding colony?
How long are they in the pupa for?
I have had them as worms for like 2 months. Is that normal? Should they have pupated already?
I heard that giant mealworms are treated with juvenile mealworm DNA or something, that causes them to not pupate-Is this true?

Thanks for answering my questions!

 

Hello!

 

Currently doing my science fair project on mealworms so I figured I'm qualified enough lol.

 

Can I use eco earth for their bedding? (How dry?)
What is the best food for them?

This is sort of a 2-in-1 question--generally, most mealworm breeders make the substrate the food! Common options are oatmeal oats, corn meal, wheat bran, or any sort of processed grain. 

In addition, fresh vegetables should be given on a regular basis as a source of water. If you plan to gut load your mealworms give them some gut loading gel in a dish.
Can mini mealworms breed?

No, only adult beetles can breed.
How do I get them to pupate?

Time. There really isn't much other than that. Of course a good diet helps in the process.
How long should it take before they pupate?

Generally it takes around 6 weeks to go from larvae to pupa. 
Is 250 enough for a breeding colony?

Sounds good to me!
How long are they in the pupa for?

Had to look this up myself since my project doesn't go for that long--generally around 2-3 weeks.
I have had them as worms for like 2 months. Is that normal? Should they have pupated already?

Sounds like they should be pupating any day now!
I heard that giant mealworms are treated with juvenile mealworm DNA or something, that causes them to not pupate-Is this true?

Yup, totally true! The chemical is called s-methoprene, which from what I remember suppresses the hormone that causes pupation. This allows the mealworms to grow to be huge without the mealworms actually metamorphosing. I was actually going to do my project on s-methoprene and mealworms but s-methoprene is kind of hard to get ahold of :P

 

I hope this helps!

[~EquestrianHammy~]

Hello!
 
Currently doing my science fair project on mealworms so I figured I'm qualified enough lol.
 
Can I use eco earth for their bedding? (How dry?)
What is the best food for them?
This is sort of a 2-in-1 question--generally, most mealworm breeders make the substrate the food! Common options are oatmeal oats, corn meal, wheat bran, or any sort of processed grain. 
In addition, fresh vegetables should be given on a regular basis as a source of water. If you plan to gut load your mealworms give them some gut loading gel in a dish.
Can mini mealworms breed?
No, only adult beetles can breed.
How do I get them to pupate?
Time. There really isn't much other than that. Of course a good diet helps in the process.
How long should it take before they pupate?
Generally it takes around 6 weeks to go from larvae to pupa. 
Is 250 enough for a breeding colony?
Sounds good to me!
How long are they in the pupa for?
Had to look this up myself since my project doesn't go for that long--generally around 2-3 weeks.
I have had them as worms for like 2 months. Is that normal? Should they have pupated already?
Sounds like they should be pupating any day now!
I heard that giant mealworms are treated with juvenile mealworm DNA or something, that causes them to not pupate-Is this true?
Yup, totally true! The chemical is called s-methoprene, which from what I remember suppresses the hormone that causes pupation. This allows the mealworms to grow to be huge without the mealworms actually metamorphosing. I was actually going to do my project on s-methoprene and mealworms but s-methoprene is kind of hard to get ahold of :P
 
I hope this helps!

Thank you so much! One has already pupated, and I hope more will pupate soon! I can’t wait to have some breeding darkling beetles! I will never have to buy mealworms again! (Unless my colony dies out or something)