Husbandry

Mealworms:

Mealworms are the larvae of a species of Darkling Beetle (Tenebrio molitor).  We house them on a 1-2” deep bran-based bedding, in a transparent container; at 20°-26° Celsius (70°-80° Fahrenheit).  This will allow you to see how much of the bedding (which doubles as food) has turned into frass.  To discard of the frass simply sift the worms to separate them from frass and place them in a new container with fresh bedding/food.  Offer your Mealworms moisture in the form of carrot or potato slices; paying special attention to the presence of mold and quickly removing it.  The shelf life of Mealworms can be lengthened by cooling them down to prevent them from pupating.  This can be achieved by removing their source of moisture and placing them on the door of your refrigerator.  The back of the fridge is typically too cold.

Nutritional Values:

Moisture             61.40% 
Fat                        14.30% 
Protein                20.00% 
Fiber                       1.80% 
Calcium               133 ppm