Breeding and reproduction techniques of mealworms

The mealworm is an insect with high protein and nutritional value. It is suitable as feed and food raw material. It has a wide range of uses, high economic value and broad breeding prospects. So what are the breeding and reproduction techniques of mealworms? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Breeding environment

The best place to breed mealworms is in a house that is sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, warm in winter and cool in summer. The light should not be too strong and it should be kept warm. The most suitable temperature is 18-30℃ and the relative humidity is 70%. When the temperature is high in summer, sprinkle water on the ground to cool it down; in winter, keep warm to ensure the normal growth and development of mealworms.

2. Selection of insects

Choose healthy, disease-free adult insects as breeding insects. It is generally recommended to purchase them from reputable suppliers to ensure the quality of the breeding insects. When breeding for the first time, it is recommended to purchase 100-200 adults as the basic population.

3. Feed management

The feed for mealworms mainly includes wheat bran , corn meal, soybean meal , etc., and some vegetables and fruits can also be added as supplementary feed. In feed management, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the feed and avoid mildew and contamination. At the same time, the feed ratio should be reasonably adjusted according to the growth stage and needs of the mealworm to meet its nutritional needs.

4. Key points for epidemic prevention

First, the breeding room must be strictly prevented from entering by natural enemies such as ants, flies, cockroaches, mice, and geckos; second, the breeding utensils must be disinfected every month; third, dead insects must be removed in a timely manner to prevent mold and deterioration that may lead to epidemics.

5. Reproduction method

The reproduction methods of mealworms include natural mating and artificial insemination. Natural mating is to place male and female adults in a breeding box in a certain ratio and allow them to mate freely. Artificial insemination involves removing the eggs from the female insect, artificially fertilizing them, and then placing them in an incubator to hatch. During the breeding and incubation period, pay attention to maintaining suitable temperature and humidity, and provide adequate nutrition and light. At the same time, the hatching situation should be checked regularly to detect and deal with abnormal situations in a timely manner.

6. Harvest and processing

Mature mealworms can be separated by gently shaking the container or using a vibrating screen. This will screen mealworms out of the substrate without harming them. After harvest, the plants should be carefully inspected for mealworms and any dead or damaged individuals removed. Healthy mealworms can be sold directly or processed further.

In general, mealworm breeding and reproduction involves many aspects and details. Only after mastering these skills and methods can we obtain better breeding benefits and economic returns.