18 replies to this topic

[AntsAreUs]

I lost every single mealworm from a strange problem, they turn into pupa then fail to morph into a beetle! Then the end up dying. I have tried many things and none have worked.

Edited by Gaige Daughtrey, December 4 2014 - 3:03 PM.

[Gregory2455]

One thing I could think of is heat. Pupae of any kind need a proper temperature to grow.

[Crystals]

Any idea why they died?

I don't think heat is too much of an issue with mealworms, mine do just fine at 19C.

 

I find low humidity can cause the pupae to dry out.  I put a mesh covered jar with water in my setups if I see the pupae starting to dry out.

I find spring and fall things can really dry out.  My place is sitting at 35% humidity, and that is with the humidifier going.

[dermy]

Hmm weird mine are doing just fine below 19C [most likely 13-15C] and still turn into beetles [mine are supposed to not turn into them or be able to breed but I have baby mealworms now!] I did loose a few pupae but not much.

 

Humidity could be a problem but don't make it too humid or mould might grow on the pupae. Other then that all I can think of is get a new stock and a new container and try again.

[AntsAreUs]

I have done everything listed.

[AntsAreUs]

Just thought I would bring up the problem again of not being able to do the simple task of breeding mealworms.

Edited by Gaige Daughtrey, December 4 2014 - 3:04 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

what the comment above says. 

[Crystals]

Have you seen by guide? 

http://forum.formicu...ing-meal-worms/

 

Can you post a picture of the pupae in a line (or just several pictures) showing various stages from freshly pupated to dieing, to competely dead?

 

Another question - are your pupae seperated from mealworms and beetles?  I find mealworms to be really bad for eating bits of the pupae, causing them to die.

[AntsAreUs]

What I do is for the mealworms I put them in a container (I have a video of the container) and I just put about 1-2 inch layer of oats and I constantly feed them organic carrots which I find don't mold and last a while. For the pupa I take out a fresh (squishy white) pupa and put them in a pupa container. I can keep taking pictures of recent pupa so you can see what happens to them, I will post the pictures every day until I can show you that they die which makes me very angry.

[AntsAreUs]

My setup:

 

 

Pupa:

 

 

Edited by Gaige Daughtrey, December 4 2014 - 4:07 PM.

[Crystals]

First, put a thin layer of oats on the bottom of that container, even 1cm is fine.  They will dry out in a plain plastic container too fast.

 

Second, try getting much better close ups of just a couple mealworms.  I want to be able to count the segments on the pupae and to be able to notice the exact area that the signs are first appearing.  Kind of like ant ID pictures.

Also try posting it on a 3rd party hosting site, as they will allow much larger images.  http://forum.formicu...sting-pictures/

[AntsAreUs]

I'm sorry I can't do that right now, wait a little while until I get a camera instead of a webcam.

[Crystals]

If you bring the mealworms closer to the webcam, how fuzzy is it?  I don't need intricate detail, but I do need to be able to see clearly.

[AntsAreUs]

It isn't very clear at all just wait a while until I get something.

[AntsAreUs]

I'm trying to work it out with someone a little more experienced on youtube, his name is 2013Rango and he seems like he can help out but I'm still not very sure.

[AntsAreUs]

Ok, after lots of studying, I came to the probably last conclusion I can make is that dry air is he problem. Just need to know a way to make the air not so dry. Any thing I can do?

[Chromerust]

It doesn't take much to humidify the container. Use fresh oatmeal and slice some potatoes in half the long way. Place some face down and face up. I've even misted one corner with water using a spray bottle


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[Crystals]

A cup full of cotton balls soaked in water works in the pupae container well.

Keep a lid on the container, with a skiff of oats or bran on the bottom.

 

If you don't mind a more tedious route, place 4-5 pupae in a test tube setup, like you would with ants.

[kellakk]

You can also just put a small layer of dirt in the container.  I accidentally introduced some adults to a few of my roach containers, and now I can't get rid of them!  I guess they do OK as a cleanup crew...