mealworm pupae

[david13]

do they usually pupate (or whatever its called) on top of the bedding or every day or so do you have to search in the bedding?.. thanks

 

[Nigel4less]

I do both, but the majority of them are at the top of the bedding

 

[david13]

ok thank you for the fast reply..

 

[david13]

instead of opening a new thread.. do mealworm beetles bite?, because i saw a site that said they bite.

 

[fallen_angel]

Well I was always told that beetles can nibble on your geckos if they are in the cage.. so I would think they can bite on us too. Could be wrong, though

 

[HepCatMoe]

i have a bin with probly close to a thousand mealworms. i often sift through looking for the pupa. ive never been bit. and thats with a bajillion chances for them to bite me.

 

[Surf_420]

yeah, ive even had a handful and all they do is try to get where the light isnt.

 

[david13]

is that the beetle or the worms?
would they only be a little nibble on your fingers or a painful bite
i never heard of anyone getting bit from them on this forum yet but i dont know..

 

[andypg3]

Say you buy 50 mealies with the intention of breeding them; how long will it take them to turn to pupae and what temp should they be stored at to encourage this change?

 

[bronko]

well i recently started breeding them myself i have a bunch of meal worms in acountrycrock butter container with bran flakes about 12 inches under a 40 watt basking bulb the temp is around 86F-91F and after 2 days i started finding 1-2 pupa's every day tell today, i already have 8 in only 5 days, they take like 2 weeks to turn into baby beetles then they mature and start mating after 2days

 

[Alusdra]

I've never been bitten by the beetles- the mealies, though- yeah. It's like picking up a bur, though- their mouths are too small to do more than just sort of stick to you. Beetle legs can feel a bit weird on your fingers if they grab hold, but again- it doesn't hurt.

They seem to do best at ~70-80 F, pupate in a week-ish, but it can be months from starting the colony to getting feeder-ready mealies. Plus I would use more than 50. If you put in 50/week, though, then you'll have a colony that isn't all at one life stage...

 

[david13]

ooo, so whats the final word on beetles biting??

thanks

 

[Alusdra]

Anything with a mouth can bite. If a mealie beetle did, though- you likely wouldn't even feel it. Their little mouths are just too small.

 

[david13]

ok thanks for answering all my questions every1

 

[moosassah]

would they only be a little nibble on your fingers or a painful bite i never heard of anyone getting bit from them on this forum yet but i dont know..

The beetles legs grab onto anything to upright themselves. The pupae squirm like mad when picked up. The worms are wiggly, but harmless. If these critters bit I would NEVER touch 'em! lol. Bugs creep me out, but I've learned to appreciate the mealy life cycle because of my leos.