Larva Rearing and Management Techniques for Yellow Mealworms
The larva rearing and management techniques for yellow mealworms are provided by Jindi Agricultural Yellow Mealworm Breeding Base:
Yellow mealworms, commonly known as bread beetles. Adult insects are 1.4-1.9 cm long, black-brown; mature larvae are 2.9-3.3 cm long, yellow-brown. Eggs are white, elliptical, and about the size of a sesame seed. Under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, they reproduce 2-3 generations per year, with overlapping generations and no hibernation. Adult insects begin mating and laying eggs 3-5 days after molting, with each female adult insect laying 280-370 eggs. The lifespan of a female adult insect is 34-127 days, while the male adult insect's lifespan is 39-82 days. Larvae are initially milky white upon hatching, turning yellow-brown after the first molt, then molting every 4-6 days. When food is scarce, larvae may cannibalize each other, with the larval stage lasting 76-201 days. In conditions of 26-30°C, the pupal stage lasts 6-8 days.
The best place to rear yellow mealworms should be chosen in a sheltered, sunny room that stays warm in winter and cool in summer, with not too strong light, maintaining warmth, with the most suitable temperature being 20-26°C, relative humidity at 70%. During high summer temperatures, water can be sprinkled on the ground to lower the temperature; during winter, insulation is needed to ensure the normal growth and development needs of the yellow mealworms.
In high summer temperatures, larvae grow faster, shedding more skins, so more green feed should be given, providing sufficient moisture, such as feeding some vegetable leaves, fruits, etc. Feed more when the temperature is high, and less when it's low. In the early larval stage, feed less refined feed, and feed less or none during molting, increasing the feeding amount as the larvae grow larger after molting. Refined feed can also be mixed with water into small lumps, cut into small pieces, and placed on a sieve for them to freely eat. The daily baiting amount should be based on the feed inside the box being eaten up by nightfall. Use the method of feeding enough in the morning and evening, and supplementing at noon. During the larval rearing period, attention should be paid to the combination of refined and green feeds, mainly refined feed in the early stage with green feed as auxiliary, and mainly green feed in the later stage with refined feed as auxiliary.
Due to different growth rates, larvae show varying sizes, so they should be raised separately in boxes according to their sizes. One box can hold 10,000-15,000 larvae, and 6,000-8,000 older larvae.
When larvae turn into pupae, provide more green feed, which is beneficial for pupation and subsequent adult emergence. Every day, promptly pick out the pupae and put them in another box, sprinkle a layer of refined feed on top, without covering the pupae, to avoid larval damage to the pupae, maintaining temperature and gas exchange.
Feed more green vegetables to immature larvae, which is beneficial for the growth and development of pupae and adults. Some older larvae may have poor appetites after the pupation period, so fishmeal can be added to promote consistent pupation.
Adults prefer nighttime activities, so feed more in the evening. Green feed can be directly placed in the breeding container, allowing yellow mealworms to freely graze.
During the larval growth process, the body color first appears white, turning yellow-brown after the first molt, then molting every 4-6 days, with a total of 6 molts during the larval stage. When larvae reach 2-3 cm in length at around 50 days old, they pupate in the feed, with heads inverted in the feed, moving left and right to rub and pupate. At room temperatures above 20°C, pupae shed their skin and become adults after about a week.
After adults just emerge from pupae, their wings are white and soft but harden and turn dark brown after 1-2 days. They like to move at night, crawl quickly, and do not like flying. They start laying eggs one week after emerging.
Breeding Management
The optimal growth and development temperature for yellow mealworms is 25-28°C, with relative humidity of 78-90%. Indoor heating in winter and cooling by watering the ground in summer can ensure their normal growth and development. For breeding yellow mealworms, you can choose wheat bran, rice bran, fish powder.
Immediately after transferring newly hatched larvae to the breeding box, spread a thin layer of disinfected wheat bran. As larvae grow through molting, gradually increase the amount of refined and green feed. Feed less or not at all during molting. The daily feeding amount should be based on the feed inside the box being eaten up by nightfall. Feed enough in the morning and evening, and supplement at noon. In the early stage, use mainly refined feed with green feed as auxiliary; in the later stage, use mainly green feed with refined feed as auxiliary. Some older larvae may have poor appetites after the peak pupation period, so add some fishmeal to promote consistent pupation. Clean the insect droppings every 15 days, and every 7 days in the middle and later stages, using a sieve to sift out the droppings. Do not feed for half a day before cleaning. When larvae vary in size due to different growth speeds, they should be raised separately in boxes according to their sizes. One box can hold 10,000-15,000 young larvae and 6,000-8,000 older larvae.
Breeding Equipment
1. Breeding Room: Choose a house facing south with north-facing windows. Doors and windows must be equipped with screens to prevent adult insects from escaping and to protect against predators like spiders, ants, cockroaches, geckos, and rats.
2. Breeding Tools: Including breeding boxes (pots), breeding racks, thermometers, hygrometers, etc. Breeding boxes are preferably made of iron mesh, with specifications of 60x45x15 cm, or porcelain basins, clay jars, and cardboard boxes can also be used for breeding. All breeding tools require smooth inner walls, with mesh covers to prevent larvae and adult insects from crawling out. Wooden breeding racks are generally 1.4 meters high, 1 meter long, and 0.35 meters wide, for placing breeding equipment.
Jindi Agricultural Yellow Mealworm Breeding Base offers wholesale yellow mealworms and yellow mealworm breeder stock year-round. Purchase yellow mealworm breeder stock and receive free yellow mealworm breeding techniques. Contact number: 15080987576
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