In this video I demonstrate how to setup a small mealworm farm.
WHAT IS A MEALWORM?
Mealworms are the Larvae stage of a Beetle. They are usually raised as food for pet reptiles and birds, but they can also be eaten by humans! In fact, it is far more efficient to raise mealworms than to raise other animal sources of protein such as cattle.
LIFECYCLE OF A BEETLE
Adult Beetles mate with each other and then the females lay eggs. The eggs hatch into tiny Larvae called Mealworms. Over a period of many weeks these grow into full sized Mealworms which can be harvested for food or allowed to continue onto the Pupae stage. This is when a Mealworm forms a hard casing around itself and becomes immobile for a week or two before breaking free as an adult Beetle to start the cycle over again.
STARTING A FARM
You will need an enclosed container of some kind with holes for ventilation. Fill the container with grain which serves as both the bedding and the primary food source for the Mealworms. Place halved potatoes or carrots in the container as their source of moisture.
CONTROL HUMIDITY
Avoid moisture building up in the container because this can lead to the grain becoming moldy and toxic for the Mealworms to eat. This is done by providing adequate ventilation, but also by controlling the humidity of the space in which you are storing your containers.
CONTROL TEMPERATURE
Beetles move through the various stages of their lives most quickly when the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They will continue to reproduce and grow at lower temperatures, but it will be at a slower pace and you will have reduced yield. If it gets too cold they will become completely dormant until it heats back up again.
HARVESTING MEALWORMS
It's best to harvest Mealworms when they've reached their full size just before transitioning to the Pupae stage. Place them in the refridgerator to put them to sleep, and then into the freezer to end their lives painlessly. At this point you can use them in meals such as stir fries or grind them up into Mealworm Flour.
