Data sheet mealworms

Latin name:
Tenebrio molitor

Origin:
worldwide distribution

Size:

up to 18mm

age expectation:
up to 5 months

Breed:
possible

Lining:
suitable for amphibians, reptiles, rodents, poultry Jon Glittenberg, Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), CC BY-SA 4.0

General information

mealworms are not actually worms, but larvae of flour beetles. This flour beetle grows up to 1.7 centimeters long and has an oblong shape, a black-brown coloration and 6 legs.

They have longitudinally corrugated elytra, which the older beetles do not spread, but the young beetles do. Their underdeveloped underwings ensure that the insects not fly can. If flour beetles have pupated, their container should be covered to prevent the young beetles from escaping.

flour beetles and their larvae, the mealworms, like to eat bread, flour and cereals. This insect is therefore a pest that nobody wants to find in their kitchen. The flour beetle larvae as well as the flour beetle are nocturnal insects. former cannot climb smooth and steep wallsto escape from her container.

The flour beetle larvae are therefore called mealworms. You own one chitinous armor. The hatched larvae are about 3 millimeters large and white in color. if you lots of food and warmth comes, they grow fast and survive multiple moltsuntil they turn yellowish. Your size is almost 2 centimeters. When food is scarce and conditions are cool, their growth is slower. They can then remain larvae for almost a year. In optimal conditions, they become between 2 and 3 months Beetle.

The mouth with the two is on the front of the head lateral biting tools for crushing the food. Flour beetles eat with their eyes and antennae lightness and darkness true. The forebody is with 6 legs equipped with which the beetles can move quite quickly and burrow into the ground. Climbing is not possible with it.

Adult larvae pupate and after around 21 days hatch beetles. They are light at first, but turn dark in a few hours. They then also get their complete chitin armor.

attitude

become mealworms preferably in plastic tubs housed, which do not need to wear a lid because mealworms cannot climb. The Oxygen supply should be sufficient, because otherwise moisture can form in the plastic tub, which has a negative impact on the vitality of the mealworms. Worst case forms Mold.

The mealworms need enough spaceso that they do not lie on top of each other. egg cartons can give them more space. One Room temperature between 20 and 23 °C is optimal for mealworms and no additional heat or light sources are necessary.

Mealworms as feed animals require cleanliness as well as good nutrition, since the animals to be fed should ultimately remain healthy. A small container from 18 × 11 × 14 centimeters is sufficient. A larger jam jar is also suitable for mealworms. This does not require a lid due to the mealworms’ inability to climb. The bottom of the tank will be a few centimeters Oatmeal, flour, bread, wheat bran or semolina covered in which the worms live and feed.

About 100 worms have space in such a container. The proportion of feed should exceed the number of mealworms, because mold can develop if the stock is too high. Sometimes mealworms need some moisturewhich they in the form of lettuce or cucumber receive. They gladly accept this green fodder.

breed

The mealworms hardly require any resources. This equipment is sufficient for the beginning of a mealworm cultivation:

• a few stackable containers, as mealworms go through different developmental stages
• Beetle box including cover, hatch ramp and perforated floor
• Bread crumbs, oatmeal, flour and the like as bedding and feed
• Vegetable and fruit pieces as food
• Starting colony of mealworms
• insect screen
• shovel
• brush for cleaning

mealworms love a sufficiently ventilated and evenly warm room. Breeding is very successful between 20 and 23 °C. The mealworm dwelling will cleaned every day and the animals are fed daily. Matured larvae are always removed and the larvae that are already in the pupation stage for breeding in a beetle box given.

Every mealworm breeder has the option of creating a mealworm breeding system himself or purchasing a ready-made system.

The flour beetle life cycle is maintained by bred again and again become. For this purpose, the matured larvae are filtered out so that they can pupate. The dolls are then placed in a beetle box on the hatching ramp. There they can develop without disruption and are not eaten up by flour beetles and larvae. After hatching, they fall onto the trellis on the ground where they lay their laying eggs.

fodder and feeding

mealworms love bedding, consisting of breadcrumbs, flour or oatmeal. A couple of times a week they get extra pieces of fresh vegetables and fruit, from which they get their liquid. The litter mass as well as the feces are be disposed of regularly and replaced with new bedding. The leftovers should disposed of properly because household waste can contain larvae that thrive.

Mealworms are given to animals, for example reptiles or amphibians offered directly as feed and only in amounts they can eat. Otherwise, some larvae can dig into the bottom of the terrarium or even eat into the back walls.

Bowls for worm feeding are also an option. The mealworms won’t come out of this container and the Reptiles can eat when they want. Uneaten mealworms stay inside and can be eaten later.

The nocturnal Mealworms lie around lifeless during the day. Are they still alive becomes clear by lifting up, because then they move. Lifeless, non-moving mealworms should not be fedbecause they can be dead and transmit pathogens.

Rodents should eat the mealworms kill immediately. They should be hand fed so that the rodent bites off their heads first, which rodents usually do anyway.

Chicken diligently peck for worms and insects. You and other poultry like mealworms very much, In addition, they are suitable for taming shy fowl. Mealworms also serve as source of protein and vitamins and are completely natural food animals.

The dried mealworms even contain more protein than live ones. She also contain a lot of fat and should only be given in moderation as food, especially as otherwise diarrheal diseases can occur.