Mealworm beetles

[LCReptiles]

Alright so my mealworm colony is becoming quite prolific. I currently have a huge tube in the fridge, plus a tube in my rack system full of worms, a second tube with fresh hatched babies and a tub with beetles/pupae. My question is what is the easiest way to get the beetles relocated once you find the freshly hatched worms? That seems to be the part I'm having trouble with.

 

[SC Geckos]

Before I installed wire mesh into the bottom of the beetle tubs (so I don't have to move them) I would use big slices of apple. I would place the apple slices in the tub wait for the beetles to start eating it. Then pick up the pieces of apple and knock the beetles off into the new tub. After I did this a few times to get most of them out I had to pick the left over beetles out by hand.

 

[LCReptiles]

Thanks Brad! I hadn't considered putting wire mesh in the bottom where the frass and worms would just fall through. I have to perfect my bedding first though as right now the food processor I'm using doesn't make the oats fine enough to do that easily.

 

[cassicat4]

Wire mesh at the bottom is definitely ideal and works great! Alas, I only have one setup like this...

I find they're also drawn to cardboard toilet paper rolls, and I'll often put a piece of potato (although I like the idea of using apple) inside the rolls. When I need to remove the beetles, I just relocate the entire tube.

I also saw a YouTube video recently of someone removing the beetles by using a strainer...one that's too large for the worms to stick in, but small enough the beetles don't fall through. I've never tried it myself though.

 

[acpart]

I use a strainer. It's tedious, but it works. The only problem I see with the apple and potato is the baby worms eating them as well.

Aliza

 

[SC Geckos]

I use a strainer. It's tedious, but it works. The only problem I see with the apple and potato is the baby worms eating them as well.

Aliza

You may get a few baby mealies on the apple but I would only have to wait a minute or two before the apple was covered in beetles. They flock to the apple like a moths to a flame. It sure beat picking them out of the oats one by one with tweezers, thats for sure.
Now I have a wire mesh on the bottom of the beetle tub with the baby mealworm tub underneath, so the only beetles I ever remove now are the dead ones. The baby mealworms find there way threw the mesh and fall into the tub below where they grow up. It works great.

 

[BadKelpie]

You don't have to use oats, I use whole wheat flour, it works great.

 

[ehebert]

I use lay mash crumbles. $14 for a 50lb sack, and it last for a long while.