Superworm problem

[sentinelaeon]

Hello,

I am trying to breed superworms but it is just not working. I tried many times and always failed. I also breed mealworms and i have no problem whatsoever with them. I house my superworms the same way i house my mealworms. Similar temperature, same substrate (i grind oats, dogfood, nuts, etc.). I separate superworms to get beetles. That is fine. And beetles live for many weeks. I added cup of water crystals so they have water at all times.

This last time i actualy noticed a few small worms in their bin, but later on disapeared. In another bin, i removed the beetles so the worms would have peace. I added drops of water every few days directly to substrate. And well, from like 20 beetles, i got 1 superworm and it was very very big, grew like super fast.

So what am i doing wrong ? It just makes no sense. Mealworms in same conditions breed like crazy

 

[ColeopteraC]

Are the adults fed veg (carrots etc.)?

 

[sentinelaeon]

i didnt give them vegs, i suplied water directly, either to substrate or to a piece of bread. And if you are asking about the beetles, they had water crystal so i didnt add carrots or anything

 

[ColeopteraC]

i didnt give them vegs, i suplied water directly, either to substrate or to a piece of bread. And if you are asking about the beetles, they had water crystal so i didnt add carrots or anything

Perhaps adding veg will improve, they do need to feed as adults

 

[sentinelaeon]

Hmm, i will try. I am wondering, could the low humidity in the bin also be the problem for little superworms ? I could somehow increase it, i noticed it was very dry.

 

[icu2]

Hmm, i will try. I am wondering, could the low humidity in the bin also be the problem for little superworms ? I could somehow increase it, i noticed it was very dry.

Supers don't need humidity in my experience. I have about 30k Supers and give them no water ever. They are either on wheat bran or chicken lay/grower mash. For moisture for themselves I slice carrots or potatoes. Just remember that you must remove the beetles about every 2 weeks or they start eating the eggs that have been layed.

 

[icu2]

Hello,

I am trying to breed superworms but it is just not working. I tried many times and always failed. I also breed mealworms and i have no problem whatsoever with them. I house my superworms the same way i house my mealworms. Similar temperature, same substrate (i grind oats, dogfood, nuts, etc.). I separate superworms to get beetles. That is fine. And beetles live for many weeks. I added cup of water crystals so they have water at all times.

This last time i actualy noticed a few small worms in their bin, but later on disapeared. In another bin, i removed the beetles so the worms would have peace. I added drops of water every few days directly to substrate. And well, from like 20 beetles, i got 1 superworm and it was very very big, grew like super fast.

So what am i doing wrong ? It just makes no sense. Mealworms in same conditions breed like crazy

Applying water directly to the substrate has 2 faults. Firstly the substrate becomes hard and the supers can't move freely. Secondly the water you cant see as it sinks and eventually this could harbour bacteria. Continue as you have been but just add sliced carrots or potato every third day or so....no water.

 

[icu2]

i didnt give them vegs, i suplied water directly, either to substrate or to a piece of bread. And if you are asking about the beetles, they had water crystal so i didnt add carrots or anything

If you really want the beetles to be happy, add sliced apple.....they love it. just remove uneaten debris as mold and fruit flies become an issue.

 

[FrankiePinchinatti]

I came on here to ask a very similar thing.

I was trying to find as much information as I could on the timeframe of various superworm stages of life and couldn't really find anything about how long between the beetles mature to when they start laying eggs, the only thing I found was that it takes 1-2 weeks for the eggs to hatch.

I had 12 beetles come out of the pupa over the course of a week and added them all into a fresh bin of oats and wheat germ. The first beetle went in 5 weeks ago and the last one 4 weeks ago. I've been scouring every inch of that bin daily for the last 2 weeks and I've never seen any worms. The bin is probably low to mid 70s and I throw a chunk of carrot or potato in every few days so they have a moisture source.

Was kind of thinking of transferring the beetles to a fresh bin just in case there are eggs in there getting eaten, but who knows.

 

[icu2]

I came on here to ask a very similar thing.

I was trying to find as much information as I could on the timeframe of various superworm stages of life and couldn't really find anything about how long between the beetles mature to when they start laying eggs, the only thing I found was that it takes 1-2 weeks for the eggs to hatch.

I had 12 beetles come out of the pupa over the course of a week and added them all into a fresh bin of oats and wheat germ. The first beetle went in 5 weeks ago and the last one 4 weeks ago. I've been scouring every inch of that bin daily for the last 2 weeks and I've never seen any worms. The bin is probably low to mid 70s and I throw a chunk of carrot or potato in every few days so they have a moisture source.

Was kind of thinking of transferring the beetles to a fresh bin just in case there are eggs in there getting eaten, but who knows.

 

[icu2]

Hi there, I have been breeding superworms for quite a while amongst other insects. After the beetles come out of the pupation stage they take a week or 2 to start breeding. Put egg flats on top of the substrate as they prefer to mate underneath it and it applies extra warmth. Put the carrot slices on top of the egg flats to avoid any moisture in the substrate, which will then compact it. I leave the beetles (newly pupated ones) in the tub for a month then move them every 2 weeks thereafter to new tubs. Beetles do eat the eggs hence the move every fortnight. Temps could be a little higher as I keep mine around 26-29°C. Yours are around 21-22° C. A 9w heat pad under the tub would suffice. In cooler temps the eggs will take longer to hatch as I noticed this in South Africa where I reside. We're currently going into that stage now so the heat pads get switched on within the next month.
The larger darkling beetle of the superwomen is normally the female and she should lay a minimum of 85 eggs. Under favorable conditions they should hatch within 9-12 days, unlike the mealworms which take around 19 days on average.
Try and keep them out of direct light when breeding as well. Possibly put a heat pad under the tub with the eggs in to speed up the process.
Good luck.

 

[sentinelaeon]

I made a new bin for superworm bettles. I added only oatmeal as substrate, added water crystal in a bowl, added hiding place and i add veggies or fruit every 2-3 days. Will see how it goes. From my previous attempts with many bettles i only managed to get 1 superworm. But that superworm grew super fast, it is as it ate all the other eggs and managed to get that gigantic size so quick

 

[icu2]

I made a new bin for superworm bettles. I added only oatmeal as substrate, added water crystal in a bowl, added hiding place and i add veggies or fruit every 2-3 days. Will see how it goes. From my previous attempts with many bettles i only managed to get 1 superworm. But that superworm grew super fast, it is as it ate all the other eggs and managed to get that gigantic size so quick

The newly hatched beetles can remain in a tote for about 4 weeks as they take time to mature & breed. Thereafter move them out every fortnight. After about ten days after the beetles have been transferred to another tub, you should see tiny movement (using a magnifying glass) if you dig up the substrate a little. Once there is any sort of movement add a few carrot slices so they new borns don't target the unhatched eggs. I have never had any water crystals in any of my insect breeding totes and I'm sure i have at least 200k insects total.
Hope this helps to grow your colony.

 

[sentinelaeon]

Just wanted to let you all know that it appears i solved the problem. I am not sure how exactly. I took your advice and i add vegetables every few days, usualy carrot. And now i have 2 bins of young crawly worms. They are so much faster than mealworms, when i shake the box, everything moves. The biggest worms are about the size of adult superworms.

I am not sure how i solded it though because i remember years back, i didnt have water crystals so i gave them veggies everyday but never could produce any superworms.

Also i think i had a mite infestation in 1 of the bins where i had bettles together with young superworms. I opened the bin and put it infront of a fan for a few days and well, all the supers survived and im pretty sure i killed off the mites. Soo all in all, great so far. Lets see if they become old enough to actualy pupate (i separate them and had no problem making tons of pupae). So yes, i will report when i actualy have my first bettle that was made from my own egg