• 1
    Buying mealworms

    Any animals store can provide this kind of insects or buy it on internet.

    Do not buy "superworms" because of hormons treatment, they will not reproduce themselves.

    Mealworms are not well treated in animal stores (my point of view) so to avoid at maximum any chemical treatment, I did two full life circle before begining to prepare them.
  • 2
    Prepare mealworms home

    Paper sorter is well fitted for this king of breeding. Just fill existing holes obviously or use tape with sliding face.

    It's working well for me.

    Cut one of the drawer at the bottom but not full size, leave some extra plastic, it will help sort the pupa and the beetles. Put it on top.

    The next drawer is for beetles. Use some bran to make them a litter to lay eggs. Bran will provide a little food but carrots are way better for them. No need for specific water source, they take water from air and food. Do not put too much food as moisture will grow, it sticks and smells rot. Carrot peel will dry too fast, put full carrot in piece.

    The followings drawers are mealworms in different stages of evolution. The last is the one that will be taken.

  • 3
    Sorting time

    With drawers, sorting is not hard as it looks.

    Pupas are extract from bottoms drawers regularly with teaspoon and kindly dropped off in the first drawer.

    Dead beetles are extracted with pliers to leave litter as clean as possible.

    Use stainless steel strainer and 3D printed one to sort bigger worms.

    When to harvest ? hard to tell as it depends on maturity. Worms should have a nice brown color as the above picture.

    Too late and the worms will turn into a chrysalis. Too early and you will not reach the full weight potential.

    When harvesting is done, leave them for 24 hours without food to do fasting and clean their digestive organ.

    Some will turn into chrysalis, nevermind, extract pupa and after fasting period, freeze them... R.I.P.