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CareSheet For Mealworms (FEEDERS)
Life Cycle of a Meal Worm
Stage 1: Egg
Stage 2: Larva (this is the stage we begin our observations with)
Stage 3: Pupa
Stage 4: Beetle
Characteristics
Larva:
tan/brown
Segmented body (looks striped)
Six legs up front
Tail has a spike
2 antennae
jumpy, crawling, very active
center part of body is the fattest
Pupa:
white/cream
dormant (resting—going through metamorphosis)
fat head
pointy tail
turn upside down and you can see the six legs
Beetle:
small
long and skinny
dark brown
move very quickly
Mealworms (Tenebrio)
Food/Bedding:
Fresh bran mixed with high protein baby cereal, alfalfa flakes (or crushed alfalfa hay), chicken egg layer mash. Mix in reptile multivitamin and calcium supplements
Water
Slices of fruit or vegetables
Housing:
To keep from metamorphosizing into pupae and beetles, keep in the refrigerator. You can keep in the original container,replacing the fruit daily and bran/vitamins as needed. To promote metamorphosis, you need to keep them at room temperature and house in a larger container. Buy a larger than usual batch of meal worms (you can get right from breeder at far less expense than buying from pet store), then, instead of refrigerating them, leave them out a room temperature. Put in a plastic or glass covered enclosure (like a small critter tank or Pet Pal), adding extra bran, some slices of fruit. Cover with a couple of layers of paper towel or cloth, and keep it moist (not wet). They will crowd under and go through their metamorphosis, from larva to pupae (which may also be eaten) to beetle within a matter of days. Leave some beetles in to breed to get more larvae.
Housekeeping:
Sift out the worms, pupae and larve monthly and replace the food/bedding and fruit. Replace the paper towel as needed or replace cloth with freshly laundered one.
Life Cycle of a Meal Worm
Stage 1: Egg
Stage 2: Larva (this is the stage we begin our observations with)
Stage 3: Pupa
Stage 4: Beetle
Characteristics
Larva:
tan/brown
Segmented body (looks striped)
Six legs up front
Tail has a spike
2 antennae
jumpy, crawling, very active
center part of body is the fattest
Pupa:
white/cream
dormant (resting—going through metamorphosis)
fat head
pointy tail
turn upside down and you can see the six legs
Beetle:
small
long and skinny
dark brown
move very quickly
Mealworms (Tenebrio)
Food/Bedding:
Fresh bran mixed with high protein baby cereal, alfalfa flakes (or crushed alfalfa hay), chicken egg layer mash. Mix in reptile multivitamin and calcium supplements
Water
Slices of fruit or vegetables
Housing:
To keep from metamorphosizing into pupae and beetles, keep in the refrigerator. You can keep in the original container,replacing the fruit daily and bran/vitamins as needed. To promote metamorphosis, you need to keep them at room temperature and house in a larger container. Buy a larger than usual batch of meal worms (you can get right from breeder at far less expense than buying from pet store), then, instead of refrigerating them, leave them out a room temperature. Put in a plastic or glass covered enclosure (like a small critter tank or Pet Pal), adding extra bran, some slices of fruit. Cover with a couple of layers of paper towel or cloth, and keep it moist (not wet). They will crowd under and go through their metamorphosis, from larva to pupae (which may also be eaten) to beetle within a matter of days. Leave some beetles in to breed to get more larvae.
Housekeeping:
Sift out the worms, pupae and larve monthly and replace the food/bedding and fruit. Replace the paper towel as needed or replace cloth with freshly laundered one.