Oh this is so GROSS! :-@

the.puppeteer · Post by **the.puppeteer** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:22 pm

Yeah, when I first told my mom (Liz) she said she would NEVER get mealworms lol! Now I've talked her into taking 1000 from 5000 I'll be getting in March.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:28 am

Did you have to tell us that? Liz is gonna go crazy!!!!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:32 am

I am so far gone!

These birds better be worth the trouble.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:25 am

wont be to long Liz and you'll be feeding mealworm with ease, even picking them out with your fingers

during breeding season my birds eat between 300 - 400 mealworm per day thank god mealworm are so easy to breed (then you add the maggots and moths to the list)

something else for you to look forward to .

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:36 pm

I am going to have to reconsider breeding my own due to cost. I bought 5000 less then two weeks ago and they are almost gone. They may last another week or so. I am going to read some on raising your own and make a decision about that. The only problem is that I am scared to death of things that fly (imagine that coming from someone with birds)

By that I mean any type of insect..... if is flies, it terrifies me.

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:52 pm

the.puppeteer wrote:Just to confirm the myth of them living in the walls - THEY ARE LIVING IN MY WALLS!!!

Yes it's true, and I hope that my housemates don't find the worms crawling in the halls (I have).

I don't know what they are eating, but the beetles are breeding, laying eggs, hatching out mealworms, pupating, turning into beetles, etc etc etc. But I do get free mealworms out of it that my Society fiches love!

-Julie

Thank you for the confirmation about escaping mealworms !!

Ray

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:42 pm

Yes - thanks errr ever so much!

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:10 pm

I guess maybe I'm lucky, then!

Never had an infestation of mealworms, but we do keep feeder roach colonies that we have to make sure have no escapees... >_<

the.puppeteer · Post by **the.puppeteer** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:56 pm

Hi Donna,

I have yet to see any of the beetles fly, just crawl. And unless they get away, you shouldn't have any beetles anyway lol.

-Julie

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:11 am

have had a few escape in the aviary and survive long enough to find a safe hiding spot from the birds, god alone knows how, these have become beetles and I hope will breed where they are. birds would love to have some live food in there all the time. instead of waiting for me each day

fincher · Post by **fincher** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:49 am

well done liz for getting the mealworms
good thing you fdont live at my place as i have mealworms and maggots in me fridge plus more out side in me bird shed breeding more of both
chris

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:04 am

okay.... how long does it take for them to become beetles?

hfentj · Post by **hfentj** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:25 am

Good topic for a good laugh and learning.

$\:D/$

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:04 pm

yes, we can be quite entertaining sometimes.

Especially when it come to the subject of worms and bugs.

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:04 pm

It takes several weeks up to over a month for the worms to become pupae, but they have to be in the right conditions to feel safe enough to do so. After that, it takes several more weeks for the pupae to turn into beetles. Overall, it's a few months.