Heating mealworms?

[leoman5654]

I am trying to start a mealworm colony at the moment. I know that crickets need heat to incubate their eggs and roaches need heat to breath. I have read up on how to breed mealworms. The only question I have is whether or not heat has any effect on darkling beatle breeding or egg incubation? Thank you

 

[T-ReXx]

Heat is really unecessary, they breed fine at room temps. If you keep them slightly warmer (80-82F) they will grow a bit faster and pupate faster.

 

[leoman5654]

thank you very much. that is what I had figured. I just wanted to make sure I got everything right for when I start trying to breed mealworms.

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

I wouldn't use any heat with them at all. I have mine in ambient temps in the house (no lower than 65) and they do perfectly fine. Heat will also speed up the time between molts in your mealworms...which will reduce time they are available for feeding.

 

[ZooKeeperKarin]

I have a large colony and they do just fine at room temp. Recently, we put in a coal burning stove in our garage, which is right under our family room (where the geckos and feeders are). Sometimes it gets downright hot up there!... 80 or so. I have noticed them pupating at a MUCH higher rate than before. I guess it would matter what you want to do with the mealworms. Higher breeding rate or higher feeding rate.

 

[leoman5654]

thanks guys. I am not going to increase the temps because I want a long feeding time. Whatever mealworms happen to pupate I will use as breeders.