Precautions for Introducing Yellow Mealworm Breeding
The precautions for introducing yellow mealworm breeding are provided by Jindi Agricultural Yellow Mealworm Breeding Base:
Yellow mealworms, commonly known as bread worms, are juicy soft-bodied animals with high fat and protein content reaching 50%. In addition, they contain various trace elements such as phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium, aluminum, and all 16 amino acids essential for animal growth. Every 100 grams of dried product contains up to 874.9 milligrams of amino acids, making their various nutritional components rank at the top among all types of feed. According to measurements, 1 kilogram of yellow mealworms has a nutritional value equivalent to 25 kilograms of wheat bran, 20 kilograms of mixed feed, and 1000 kilograms of green feed, earning it the title of "protein feed treasure house." Yellow mealworms are an excellent feed for raising poultry, fish, turtles, loaches, tilapia, bullfrogs, salamanders, scorpions, centipedes, snakes, and other special livestock.
Precautions for Introducing Yellow Mealworms
1. Introduction of Yellow Mealworms: Some companies sell commercial yellow mealworms as breeding stock at inflated prices, deceiving unknowing beginners. Therefore, beginners should preferably obtain breeding stock from reputable and trustworthy enterprises to avoid being scammed.
2. Differentiating between Breeding Stock and Commercial Yellow Mealworms: Breeding stock individuals are robust, active, plump, glossy, uniform in size, and have high survival rates. On the other hand, commercial mealworms are visibly smaller, dull in color, uneven in size, have low survival rates, and do not meet yield requirements.
3. Transportation of Yellow Mealworms: Transporting live yellow mealworms is challenging. If encountering high temperatures, it's best to transport them in the early morning or at night, ensuring a survival rate of over 90%.
Breeding Conditions for Yellow Mealworms
Scientific Breeding of Yellow Mealworms
Relation Between Egg Laying and Temperature/Humidity: The egg-laying period is a critical management phase. If the temperature is below 15°C, the eggs will hardly hatch. At 15-18°C, it takes about 20 days for the eggs to hatch. If the temperature is not well controlled, the eggs may mold and die, and too little humidity can also cause them to dry out and die. Therefore, during the egg-laying period, the room temperature should be maintained between 22-28°C, with relative humidity kept at 65%-70%, achieving a hatching rate of up to 99%.
Spring and Summer Management: The high-temperature seasons of spring and summer are crucial periods for yellow mealworm breeding. However, with proper techniques, these challenges can be easily overcome. In the rainy southern regions during spring, the death rate of larvae is high, and in summer, high temperatures can also lead to larval deaths. Beginners without experience must follow the feeding techniques provided by the supplier.
Yellow mealworms are bred indoors, so they are not restricted by climate or region. They can be raised in old warehouses, factories, or basements as long as there is good ventilation, quietness, and disinfection of old buildings before use. A dedicated breeding room is necessary, which should be well-lit, ventilated, and equipped with heating and insulation facilities for winter. The breeding technology is relatively simple, mainly divided into two phases: reproduction and feeding. The reproduction phase consists of four stages: breeding stock - pupation - adult beetle - egg laying. Although it sounds complex, it is not difficult to operate. As long as three preparations are made and three basics are mastered, the survival rate can exceed 95%.
Breeding Equipment for Yellow Mealworms: The equipment is relatively simple, including wooden trays, sieve trays, and wooden racks. The breeding tools are straightforward. These are breeding boxes specifically for raising yellow mealworm larvae and can also be used as egg-laying boxes. Their dimensions are approximately 100 cm long, 50 cm wide, and 9 cm high. Adhesive tape is attached around the edges to prevent the mealworms from escaping. This tool is called a mesh sieve and comes in two specifications: one is 4x4 mm, mainly for separating larvae and pupae, and the other is 12x12 mm, primarily for egg-laying.
Feed Sources for Yellow Mealworms: The main feed is wheat bran, supplemented by rice bran, crushed straw, etc. Vegetables include cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and other leafy greens, which provide vitamins, trace elements, and water.
Other Feeds: Add small amounts of glucose powder, fishmeal, etc. Yellow mealworms are omnivorous insects with simple and widely available feeds like bran, cornmeal, fishmeal, and soybean cake.
Additionally, pesticide-free vegetables should be fed. Yellow mealworms are particularly fond of sweet foods; pumpkins, carrots, apples, etc., are their favorite delicacies. After making the three preparations, let's discuss the three basics: temperature, humidity, and density.
The most suitable breeding temperature for yellow mealworms is between 23°C and 28°C, with relative humidity maintained at 70%-90%. It is important to emphasize that controlling density during the breeding process is very important. The optimal reproduction temperature is between 23°C and 18°C. Generally, larvae can survive at -4°C, but below 16°C, they stop reproducing and enter hibernation.
After making the three preparations and mastering the three basics, the key step is selecting the breeding stock. Mature larvae with bright colors, large sizes, and robust bodies can all be used as breeding stock. The feeding of breeding stock should involve less vegetable matter and more bran, with daily feeding once every day. After about 15 days, they begin to move less, indicating that they are about to pupate. Initially white, the pupae gradually turn yellow. Thus, after 6 hours of pupation, separate them from the larvae gently. Then sprinkle bran because the pupae will molt into adult beetles in about 7 days, at which point they will start eating.
Although the breeding technology of yellow mealworms is simple, attention to detail is still crucial, otherwise, it may affect production. Yellow mealworms are truly treasures, not only edible for animals but also processed into dried insects, pet canned food, and human food, with a broad development prospect. Truly, yellow mealworms are treasures all over.