How to Start a Mealworm Farm

Mealworms are not actually worms at all. They are the immature (larval) form of the darkling beetle Tenebrio molitor. Although these insects are pests of stored grain, they are a common food source for pet amphibians, reptiles and birds -- providing a good source of protein. They also are roasted, flavored and sold as a novelty snack-food for people. Raising mealworms to feed pets, or just to learn about insect metamorphosis, is an easy endeavor. Just as an ant farm allows someone to watch ant behavior, a mealworm farm or habitat will, over time, display all of the growth stages of these insects.

Things You'll Need

  • Habitat container for insects or small rodents -- small or medium size (or a plastic food container or small fish tank)
  • 50 mealworms (available at most pet stores)
  • Bran meal or oatmeal
  • Apple or potato, cut into quarters
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Instructions

    • 1
      Your mealworm habitat container can be clear -- if you want to observe them -- or opaque.

      Thoroughly clean and dry the habitat container. These insects rarely escape or climb, so no lid is necessary until they change into adult beetles that can fly.

    • 2

      Add the bran meal or oatmeal 1 to 2 inches deep. The mealworms will live in and consume it. Add a slice of apple or potato, but no water. Any moisture the insects require will be derived from the fresh produce. After about a week, or when the slice is dry, replace it with a fresh piece. Be sure to check for any mealworms hiding inside, before disposing of it.

    • 3

      Add mealworms to the habitat.

    • 4
      Mealworms change into darkling beetles.

      Observe the mealworms. They usually stay buried in the meal, but you can gently remove and handle them. You also can observe them as they shed their exoskeleton (castings) to grow. Over time, the larvae turn into pupae. This usually happens on the surface of the meal. At this stage, they do not move or eat. After a couple of weeks, sometimes longer, the pupae change into adult beetles. They mate, lay eggs and die. Then the cycle repeats.

    • 5

      Keep the habitat clean. Minimal effort is required to maintain the habitat. Dispose of any castings or dead beetles. Replace the substrate as necessary. The processed meal becomes a fine powder at the bottom of the habitat, while the unprocessed meal remains on the top layer. Remove the processed meal by pouring it through a sieve or strainer.