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Breeding mealworms: 1. The beetles

on 14th November 2016

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Birdwatchers and nature guides sometimes make use of mealworms to lure birds into the open LINK. Photographers may also bait birds with these mealworms for a better image. The above image shows a Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki) feeding on a mealworm, courtesy of Chan Wei Luen.

I was introduced to mealworms by 9 years old Amber Lau. She showed me her mealworms provided by her teacher. These are the larvae of a species of Darkling Beetle (Tenebrio molitor), each about 2.5cm or more long. The adult beetles are 1.25-1.8 cm long.

When Amber’s mealworms turned into beetles and subsequently laid eggs, she gave me the beetles and kept the eggs to observe the life cycle.

MealwormBeetle

The young beetles are light brown, turning gradually to dark brown then black as they age (above). The beetles are kept in a container with a layer of oats as a convenient feed. At intervals a thin slice of apple, carrot of potato is added to provide a moisture source (below).

The beetles even cannibalise dead beetles found inside the box (below).

YC Wee & Amber Lau
Singapore
11th September 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. I tried breeding mealworms last time as I had a pet myna. Many of the beetles turned out deformed. I wondered if it was because they were inbred. The shop I got them from must have been breeding them from the same batch of eggs.

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