Care Sheet for InsectsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 0 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 06/12/2007 |
Main Category: | Non-Reptile/Amphibian |
Sub Category: | Insects |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Anguisfan |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Mealworm Beetle(Tenebrio molitor) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Just Tenebrio molitor
A bigger kind of the Tenebrionid beetle family,the superworm Zoophobas morio. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | The larvae are yellow-golden coloured.The adults,after emerging from their pupae(cocoon),are yellowish,but some days later become black.They grow up to 2cm.Females are slightly bigger than the males.
They will mate freely in the container. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | For substrate(8-10 deep ) you can use a mix of:dry bran flakes,oats,bread,dry corn meal and other dry foods(always plants).
You can also add some cork-bark for them to chew on.It’s not necessary. |
Lighting and UVB: | No light needed. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | They are happy at room temperature.(70F) |
Heating and Equipment: | No heating.
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Caging Provided: | You can use a plastic container(fauna box) 40cm long,20cm wide and 15 cm high for some hundreds of them. |
Diet: | Herbivorous |
Description of Diet: | Even though in nature they may also eat animal remains(and plants), they thrive,in a more ’’normal’’ food,which I described before.1 time a week,you can give them some pieces of:apple,avocado,orange,papaya,tomato,lettuce e.t.c.
NEVER give cucumber,as it contains cucurbiticin,which is toxic to them.
Always remove the fruit some days after you’ve offered them. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | If you will use them to feed your animals,you can give them if you want some D3 vitamins,to make them more nutritious,even though it’s not essential. |
Maintenance: | Always put more substrate(as I said this is their main food)every 5 months,or more,depending on how many you have. |
Some Words on this Species: | They are usually used for feeding reptiles and birds.For both of them,I should say that their nutritional value is’n very big,so feed your animals(reptiles,birds,scorpions e.t.c.) not only mealworms,but crickets’locusts,grasshoppers,butterworms,silkworms and waxworms.
Even they are usually used for only this purpose,mealworms make interesting pets in their own right,and who knows,you may start being interested in breeding them!
Hope I helped. |
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