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My Mealworm and Superworm Breeding

Started By AntsAreUs , Aug 18 2014 1:54 PM

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43 replies to this topic

#21 Offline Alza - Posted September 24 2014 - 10:38 PM

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i find this rather creepy, and i won't be doing this myself. update this often 


#22 Offline dermy - Posted September 25 2014 - 6:37 AM

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How is breeding mealworms creepy?


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#23 Offline Crystals - Posted September 25 2014 - 7:28 AM

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Mealworms are just beetle pupae, and not true worms.  Think of them as closer to caterpillars.

Ant larvae resemble maggots more than beetle larvae...


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

 

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#24 Offline DesertAntz - Posted September 25 2014 - 8:30 PM

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Do you find the beetles in the wild or can you buy a mating pair at a feeder store or something? 


The good man is the friend of all living things. - Gandhi 

#25 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 25 2014 - 8:41 PM

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They hatch out of mealworms/superworms.


#26 Offline Crystals - Posted September 26 2014 - 6:29 AM

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The pet stores sell the mealworms.  Once the mealworms pupate you get the beetles.


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#27 Offline dermy - Posted September 26 2014 - 2:52 PM

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I got more beetles, I really hope they are fertile.


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#28 Offline Alza - Posted October 13 2014 - 9:37 PM

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ill try and raise some :D


#29 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 13 2014 - 9:38 PM

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Meal worms are easy. Try super worms.  :hot:


#30 Offline Alza - Posted October 13 2014 - 9:38 PM

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 alright


#31 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 13 2014 - 9:41 PM

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You need to separate every single larva in order to get them to pupate. :|


#32 Offline DesertAntz - Posted October 14 2014 - 7:36 AM

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That sounds tedious. 


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#33 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 14 2014 - 11:41 AM

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It is. :/

#34 Offline dermy - Posted October 14 2014 - 12:05 PM

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Here are my beetles, sorry about hijacking the thread just wanted to provide a pic of what beetles look like, you can see fresh ones and dark ones!

bettles_zps545b71aa.jpg


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#35 Offline DesertAntz - Posted October 23 2014 - 1:51 PM

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Hmm. I'm going to try my hand at culturing mealworms. They seem to be the easiest. And I'm all about the easy.  :rolleyes:


The good man is the friend of all living things. - Gandhi 

#36 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 23 2014 - 2:35 PM

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Drosophila melanogaster are the easiest for me, but depending on the medium you are using, they may be a bit smelly.

Meal worms can be smelly as well, but usually it is either that the food you gave them spoiled, or it is the beetle smell/ eclosing smell.

My Drosophila melanogaster culture has outlived all three of my Drosophila hydei cultures and my super worm culture COMBINED.


#37 Offline Mercutia - Posted November 18 2014 - 8:41 AM

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I'm curious. I'm about to purchase some superworms from a local breeder, 100 of them. How many do I need to necessarily pupate to keep a small colony going. I don't want something large and unmanageable.

 

EDIT: Also, can I use rice instead of bran or oats.


#38 Offline Crystals - Posted November 18 2014 - 3:29 PM

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I have a large shoe box full of mealworms, and I almost never look at them.  About 20 adults or so per "cycle" will give you lots of babies.  I have never tired rice.  I prefer bran, and use about 3" of it.  I find superworms are just too much maintenance (and they smell more than mealworms, especially when eclosing).


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#39 Offline dean_k - Posted November 18 2014 - 3:42 PM

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Ant keeper's home = House of horrors :P


#40 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted November 18 2014 - 3:53 PM

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Mercutia, honestly, do not spend money on super worms. Just stick with meal worms.


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