6 replies to this topic

[brasch]

i have a mealworm farm that i use to feed my ants, but i've started noticing the beetles look like they are being eaten alive or something!!!  i can't find anything on the internet on it, do any of you know anything about this?

 

 

[ponerinecat]

Cannabalism?

[antwall]

Cannibalism. I have many mealworm farms, and it is something I deal with all the time. Feed them food like carrots until they won’t eat anymore.

[brasch]

I saw a video where a guy put his carrot on a piece of paper or paper towel.  is this for mold or is it necessary or what?  do you put your carrot directly on the oats, or what?

[antwall]

You don’t have to put the carrot on a towel if you have enough beetles and worms and if your farm is open top. If there is less ventilation, keep it on a towel to prevent the oats from getting wet and moldy. Another reason the beetles might be eating each other is because when they eclose from their pupae with defective wing cases, the beetles just eat the defective ones. The pupae problem may be caused by humidity being too low or high. You can use a filled test tube with water and a cotton blocker to let the beetles drink, but remove it when empty or they will do weird things with the cotton.

Edited by antwall, January 20 2020 - 12:03 AM.

[brasch]

thank you very much!!

[kgollehon]

Are you keeping the pupae and beetles separated? I find that keeping them apart will reduce opportunistic cannibalism. It's more of a superworm problem but always better to prevent die off!