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Dermy's Mealworm Experiments and Stuff


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42 replies to this topic

#21 Offline dermy - Posted September 24 2015 - 9:54 PM

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Maybe it's too much?!



#22 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted September 26 2015 - 11:34 AM

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Maybe it's too much?!

I don't see how.



#23 Offline dermy - Posted September 26 2015 - 11:52 AM

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This may sound crazy but, have you tried different areas of your home? I'm so confused, I don't even try and stuff just happens....



#24 Offline dermy - Posted October 2 2015 - 1:53 AM

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I've just learned about a cool new project thing, using mealworms to get rid of Styrofoam, basically a study was conducted showing that mealworms can live on a diet of Styrofoam and actually made something useful from it.

 

I'm going to try my own little experiments with my own mealworms and some Styrofoam :)

 

Here is the link I found

https://news.stanfor...ics-092915.html

 

I'll keep you updated on when I get things rolling :D
 


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#25 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 2 2015 - 6:02 AM

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I'd like to see how this goes.


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#26 Offline BrittonLS - Posted October 2 2015 - 9:03 AM

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I've just learned about a cool new project thing, using mealworms to get rid of Styrofoam, basically a study was conducted showing that mealworms can live on a diet of Styrofoam and actually made something useful from it.

I'm going to try my own little experiments with my own mealworms and some Styrofoam :)

Here is the link I found
https://news.stanfor...ics-092915.html

I'll keep you updated on when I get things rolling :D


That's awesome O:

#27 Offline dermy - Posted October 2 2015 - 2:46 PM

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I'd like to see how this goes.

 

I am too, I'm currently just about to setup the first experiment bin, with a mix of baby larvae [be really cool to see how it would impact the whole growth cycle, not just the later Instars] I'm going to use a simple Styrofoam plate [pieces at a time] and then if that works well go onto the next phase.



#28 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 2 2015 - 3:04 PM

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Are you going to try some too? I'd like to see how that goes.



#29 Offline dermy - Posted October 2 2015 - 9:00 PM

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Are you going to try some too? I'd like to see how that goes.

 

Yes I am going to try it, small scale at first. But maybe push it a bit if things work well with the mini-test phase.

 

I've actually just harvested out some nice sized babies from my "mealworm poop bucket" that I will probably use :D



#30 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 2 2015 - 9:29 PM

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Not it, some. :yum:



#31 Offline dermy - Posted October 2 2015 - 9:39 PM

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I don't know, might give me an upset stomach or even worse :o

 

I also just googled what would happen if you did, apparently styrene mimics Estrogen, sorry but I'm not a lady :lol:



#32 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 2 2015 - 9:42 PM

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Shhhh... don't tell your hair.


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#33 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted October 6 2015 - 12:39 PM

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Ok, same thing happened and I should also note that I have bought only from local stores (various different stores) and all the same thing. What happens is they go through normal pupa until they are about to hatch, they get their legs out like normal but they can't get out of the pupal exoskeleton or whatever it's called. I have kept them higher temperature and humidity as it's getting a little cold. 75-80F and 70% humidity which sounds very much enough to me. The room I keep them in is room temperature of course and 60% humidity.


Edited by AntsAreUs, October 6 2015 - 12:40 PM.


#34 Offline Crystals - Posted October 6 2015 - 1:51 PM

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I noticed that a few of mine had this problem recently as well.  Some also had deformed wing cases, but most of mine are running around.  But my humidity is pretty low, probably around 50%.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#35 Offline dermy - Posted October 6 2015 - 5:17 PM

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I also get the odd mutant beetle as crystals has said. I keep them in a different bin away from the precious ones :D



#36 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted October 6 2015 - 5:21 PM

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I noticed that a few of mine had this problem recently as well.  Some also had deformed wing cases, but most of mine are running around.  But my humidity is pretty low, probably around 50%.

Could it be possible to have too much humidity? I really don't understand why I have this problem.



#37 Offline dermy - Posted October 6 2015 - 10:46 PM

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Okay here is a quick update on the beetle front [I'll try to get photos of the Styrofoam thing tomorrow]. I can no longer use You-Tube [Not in good standing for some reason :mad2: ]

 

So here is the video update via Vidme:

 

https://vid.me/BNfF

 

Sadly no embedding the videos on here, trust me I've tried.



#38 Offline dermy - Posted October 6 2015 - 11:53 PM

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Here we go:

 

Before:

IMG_2347_zps3spio1v4.jpg

 

IMG_2348_zps4y8gtmza.jpg

 

After a few Days:

IMG_2407_zps2azbvobo.jpg

 

Frass:

IMG_2408_zpshxyeyt6d.jpg

 

 

Nothing major of a difference but still they seem to be eating it, If I wasn't so cautious about my Mealworms I might try it with 500+ but they are too precious to me right now to do that.



#39 Offline dermy - Posted October 15 2015 - 1:32 PM

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Okay so I've had to dismantle the "Styrofoam experiment" Just for now, since most of them pupated, but I have begun a new experiment and have one in the works as well. I'm going to start a Colony [just a mini one to prove you can do it] from one Female Beetle [she is just huge! I found her mating so I know she is ready to lay eggs. She is inside a Proto-Type I've made that I'll share with you sometime ;)

 

I'll keep you updated, lots of mealworms and stuff now :D



#40 Offline dermy - Posted October 25 2015 - 2:14 AM

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I'm really happy with the amount of beetles I'm getting lately, I hope I can get at least 30+ more before Halloween. Just imagine them swarming all over in a container perfect for Halloween plus it's their holiday as much as it is ours.






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