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Carolina Biological Mealworms-Care Sheet

The document provides care instructions for mealworms, including how to set up their habitat with bran meal or oatmeal, checking the culture regularly to remove adults and pupae, and keeping them in a dark location at room temperatures between 25-30°C. Common questions are answered, such as that mealworms do not bite or need to be refrigerated, and how they can damage stored grain but are also a food source for other animals.

Uploaded by

Amber Martin [Lowman ES]
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74 views1 page

Carolina Biological Mealworms-Care Sheet

The document provides care instructions for mealworms, including how to set up their habitat with bran meal or oatmeal, checking the culture regularly to remove adults and pupae, and keeping them in a dark location at room temperatures between 25-30°C. Common questions are answered, such as that mealworms do not bite or need to be refrigerated, and how they can damage stored grain but are also a food source for other animals.

Uploaded by

Amber Martin [Lowman ES]
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mealworms

A CAROLINA™ CareSheet

Immediate Care and Handling


As soon as your mealworms arrive, open the shipping container, remove the cups, and look inside.
Depending on your order, you will receive larvae (mealworms), pupae, adults (darkling beetles), or a mixture
of the 3. Once you have verified that the shipment is okay, the insects are ready to use.
Habitat Setup and Maintenance
Put 5 to 10 cm of bran meal, oatmeal, wheat germ, or whole-wheat flour in the bottom of a plastic pan. Add
25 to 50 beetles, larvae, or pupae and place a small slice of potato or apple or a banana peel on top of the
meal for moisture. You can add a thin layer of shredded paper for the beetles to crawl on. Alternatively,
culture mealworms in chicken mash that has been spread on layers of moistened burlap. Use a small slice of
potato or apple or a banana peel, as before.

After 3 to 5 months, check the culture regularly for adults and pupae. Remove them and set up new cultures.
The beetles have wings but seldom fly; still, it is a good idea to cover the culture container with a screen or
perforated lid. As the name “darkling beetle” implies, these insects prefer the dark, so keep them in a cabinet
or other darkened location. All stages of mealworms do well at normal room temperatures, but they will
develop fastest at temperatures in the 25 to 30º C (77 to 86º F) range.
FAQ’s
Do these insects bite?
No. They are completely harmless to people.

Can mealworms be refrigerated?


We recommend that you use all live materials as soon as possible; however, all stages of Tenebrio can be
refrigerated. Do not freeze.

Are mealworms pests?


They can damage stored grain. Mealworms are generally beneficial because they feed on organic matter not
usually eaten by other animals. They are also food for other animals. Some people raise mealworms as live
food for pet reptiles or wild birds.

How can I tell the male beetles from the females?


Determining the sex involves dissection of specimens and detailed knowledge. Male and female beetles
probably recognize each other with special scents or pheromones.

Problems? We hope not, but if so contact us. We want you to have a good experience.
Orders and replacements: 1-800-334-5551 then select Customer Service
Technical Support and Questions: [email protected]

© 2008 Carolina Biological Supply Company

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