Mealworms are part of the darkling beetles family, found worldwide and composed of a number of species between 12,000 and 15,000. The adult form is often black or dark brown-red color with hardened front wings, wide rounded had and a lenght of 13-16 mm. The larva, which is yellow to pale reddish brown in color, grow up to 32 mm in length. Mealworms in the wild are considered pest, they attack graineries and stored foods, eating grain, bran and cerials causing damages. On the other side, they are commonly bred as food for birds, rodents, frogs, and lizards. Darkling beetles use as feeders include superworms and the lesser-known mini mealworms. (more…)

There are many reasons why someone would raise mealworms, either to cut the cost of buying them, exspecially in large quantities, or to be indipendent from the local pet store availability, or maybe to have access to different size so small lizards or baby frogs happetites can be satisfied, and why not, just as an interesting school project. Raising mealworms is a very easy process and requires very little care.

The main things necessary to star a small colony are summarized in the following:

1. • Some mealworms!
2. • Three medium plastic containers, either opaque or transparent with or without lid.
3. • Wheat flour,bran, oatmeal, corn flour, cats dry food and/or fish flakes.
4. • Dry brewer’s east and powdered milk.
5. • Potatos, apples, carrots.
6. • A dark, quiet and worm … (more…)
   
   
   Monday May 15th 2006, 5:58 pm Under: Camole