With the rapid growth of specialized aquaculture, there's an increasing demand for mealworms as live feed for various aquatic animals such as turtles, clams, frogs, and ornamental fish. Traditional potting techniques are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of modern aquaculture. Box-fed mealworm breeding is a more advanced method that suits medium to large-scale farming. Once this technique is mastered, it can lead to significant reproduction and production of Tenebrio.
To help farmers implement this method, several feeding formulas are provided for reference.
1. **Common Equipment for Box Breeding**
The main equipment includes insect-repelling boxes, nesting boxes, and sieves. Rearing boxes are typically square-shaped, with dimensions ranging from 0.6–1.0 m in length and 0.3–0.5 m in width. The base is usually made of plywood or fiberboard. The inside is smoothed with sandpaper and covered with wide tape paper for one week to create a flat surface, preventing the insects from escaping.
Nesting boxes consist of a rearing box and an egg sieve. The interior must be smooth to prevent adult mealworms from eating eggs. Adults are often kept on the egg screen, and eggs are placed in separate boxes to avoid contamination. This helps reduce pollution from eggs, larvae, and waste.
Sieves are used to separate feces and different life stages of mealworms. To prevent escape, the inner sides of the screens should be smooth. Common mesh sizes are 100, 60, or 40 mesh iron screens.
2. **Breeding Environment Requirements**
Mealworms do not require high-tech facilities. A simple, dark, well-ventilated space that protects against pests like rats, birds, and geckos is sufficient. The ideal summer temperature should be below 33°C, while winter temperatures must stay above 20°C to avoid dormancy. Dry racks or iron frames are placed inside, with each frame divided into 3–4 layers, spaced 50 cm apart.
3. **Selection of Insect Species**
Choosing high-quality mealworm species is essential. They should be hardy, have good appetite, grow quickly, and utilize feed efficiently. It's best to purchase from professional sources and replace the stock every 2–3 generations. When selecting larvae, look for those that are large (3500–4000 per kg), active, responsive to light, and have a golden color with a shiny body and white underbelly, measuring over 30 mm in length.
4. **Feeding and Management**
Mealworms are social insects, so maintaining proper density is crucial. Larvae should be kept at 3.5–6 kg/m², with lower density for larger larvae or in warmer, humid conditions. Adult density should be between 5000–10,000/m².
Feeding begins after hatching. New feed is added once the old feed is consumed (7–15 days). Each feeding should be 10–20% of the insect weight, with feeding intervals of 3–5 days. Vegetables like cabbage, radish, and watermelon rind can be added when larvae reach 5 mm, but avoid juicy feed during early stages.
Sieving is done every 3–5 days using appropriate mesh sizes. Before feeding, remove feces to prevent spoilage. Larvae should be separated once they reach 12 days or older. Light is used to encourage young larvae to move into feed, while older ones are collected manually.
After emerging as adults, they should be separated from pupae promptly. A wet black cloth or leaves can be used to collect them. Eggs are collected through gauze, and under optimal temperatures (24–34°C), they hatch into larvae within 6–9 days.
5. **Disease Prevention**
Maintaining hygiene is key. Select healthy worms, use clean feed, and regularly disinfect the environment. Avoid damp or moldy feed, and address any pest issues immediately.
6. **Feed Formulas and Processing**
- **Formula 1**: Wheat bran 70%, corn flour 25%, soybean 4.5%, vitamin complex 0.5%. Suitable for larvae.
- **Formula 2**: Wheat bran 75%, corn flour 15%, fishmeal 4%, food 4%, vitamin complex 0.8%, mixed salt 1.2%. For adults to increase egg production.
- **Formula 3**: Wheat bran 40%, corn bran 40%, bean cake 18%, vitamins 0.5%, salt 1.5%. For both larvae and adults.
- **Formula 4**: Wheat flour 95%, food 2%, royal jelly 0.2%, vitamins 0.4%, salt 2.4%. For adult breeding.
During winter, wheat bran alone or with corn flour can be used. Fermented agricultural by-products like sawdust and straw can also be fed after processing.
All ingredients are mixed with 10% water, and vitamins or salt can be dissolved in the water. Feed is then dried for use. If possible, process into puffed granules. Small larvae need fine particles (≤0.5 mm), while larger ones require 1–5 mm. Soft feed is preferred for small larvae.
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