Mealworm Beatles - Male or Female?

[Landen]

Is there any way to determine sex of the mealworm beatle? Trying to maximize females laying? I've currently got a very stable colony, but trying to maximize for my upcoming hatchlings this season.

Thanks
Landen
Unique Breeds
Dallas Tx

 

[Khrysty]

I've never tried..but if you see them mating...the female's the one on the bottom lol. Possibly, when you see that, pick the two up and look carefully at them. Note any differences you see? I think you may need a magnifying glass.. That's the only way I know how to tell but that doesn't exactly help when trying to maximize the colony's potential :/

 

[Landen]

Exactly why it's worth asking. I never thought of it until now, but I bet if I we;re to mark the male with a paint pen when I witness them paired up it would eventually let me know roughly how many males !! Thanks for the idea !!

 

[KelliH]

Let us know if you come up with the answer!

 

[sammer021486]

too bad they were not like moths, with a moth you just have to look at the antennas. Males have broad feathery ones where as the female's are narrow.

 

[Landen]

Idk, do you think that it would harm the beatles at all if I were to mark the backs of the males with a paint pen or sharpie? I mean everytime I pull out my worm tubs they're always getting down to business. Visually I can pick the males from the ones being on top. I'm just concerned with possibly infecting the beatles and poisoning the leos. Think that there is any concern with that kellli?

 

[sammer021486]

Sharpies or Bics (I love the Bics markers over Sharpies, I find the tips are of better quality, they do not mush or fray as fast as the Sharpie) are non-toxic, plus breeders mark eggs with Sharpies. Now if the leo is ingesting the beetle, I would not be too concerned, but if your just referring to toxicity in the beetle being passed onto its eggs, then no there is no worries, because if there was breeders would not be marking the eggs with the marker.

 

[HepCatMoe]

females are generally bigger than males (i was going to try and separate them by size until somebody pointed this out to me).

i am still confused as to what you plan to do when you figure out how many males you have? or is the knowledge just for the sake of knowledge?

edit: this is my post # 666 !!!! :devil:

 

[B.appel13]

The females have a split shell. You will see a small "crack" in the middle of the back.

males do not.

 

[sammer021486]

The females have a split shell. You will see a small "crack" in the middle of the back.

males do not.

The area I have circled is that what you are referring to for the split?

 

[Landen]

I've got multiple colonies of mealworms going actually and one is producing more mealworms than the other but both have the same amount of beatles. This is all mostly for my extreme note taking. I'm a record nut and am always trying to find ways to maximize production. I'm just a record nut.... but very interesting to know about the crack on the back. I'll be sortin them out and let ya'll know...

 

[B.appel13]

The area I have circled is that what you are referring to for the split?

No further down where the "wings" are...You will see them spaced apart. This is because the eggs cause her to swell separating the wings. Sometimes small othertime very very noticable.

 

[sammer021486]

No further down where the "wings" are...You will see them spaced apart. This is because the eggs cause her to swell separating the wings. Sometimes small othertime very very noticable.

Ok, so the hard shell that covers the wings separates due to her being gravid.

 

[B.appel13]

yes

 

[sammer021486]

this is a very long shot, but I was watching my beetles and scooped the first pair that I saw mating. The female had the split that B.appel13, talks about, but as I was shinning my flash light over the beetles I also noticed that the male had a black shine to it where as the female had a brownish shine to it. Since they were the only two that I saw mating at the time it is an untested finding, but one that could be possible.