Scientific Name: Tenebrio molitor
Common Name: Mealworm
Size: Larvae: 1–3cm | Beetles: 1.5–2cm
Lifespan: Larvae ~8–12 weeks, Beetles ~1–3 months
Reproduction: Beetles lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime
Best Temperature for Breeding: 24–28°C
Feeding Frequency: Provide fresh food every 2–3 days
1. Introduction to Breeding Mealworms
Mealworms are one of the best protein sources for ant colonies, making them a staple feeder insect for ant keepers. They are easy to breed, cost-effective, and nutritionally rich, providing vital proteins for developing ant larvae.
Why breed your own mealworms?
✔️ Saves Money – No more relying on expensive pet store purchases.
✔️ Always Available – Never run out of fresh food for your ants.
✔️ Nutritional Control – Gut-load them to make them even healthier.
✔️ Minimal Space Needed – Even a small plastic tub can sustain a colony.
2. How to Start Your Own Mealworm Farm
🐛 Step 1: Getting Your Starter Mealworms
To start breeding, you’ll need live mealworms, which you can get from:
- Pet Stores (Look for reptile or bird food sections)
- Bait Shops (Used for fishing, but still great for breeding)
- Online Suppliers (Ebay, Amazon, or specialty insect farms)
🔹 How many should you buy?
If you want a steady supply of mealworms, start with at least 500–1000 worms. This ensures you’ll have a consistent cycle of larvae, pupae, and beetles.
📦 Step 2: Choosing the Right Container
Mealworms can chew through plastic and foam, so be careful!
✅ Best Containers: Large plastic tubs, glass aquariums, or storage drawers
❌ Avoid Foam or Thin Plastic: They’ll chew holes and escape
💡 Tip: Use a container at least 10cm deep to prevent escapes.
🌾 Step 3: Adding Bedding & Substrate
Mealworms live in and eat their bedding, so choose something edible:
✔️ Wheat Bran (Best Choice!) – High in nutrients, easy to sift through
✔️ Oat Bran – Alternative to wheat bran, great for moisture control
✔️ Crushed Cereal (Plain, Unsweetened) – Can work if no bran is available
Fill the container with 3–5cm of substrate to allow burrowing.
🥕 Step 4: Providing Food & Water
Mealworms get their hydration from fresh veggies. Never use a water dish!
✔️ Carrots (Best choice) – Doesn’t mold easily, lasts longer
✔️ Potatoes – Great moisture source but can mold quickly
✔️ Apple Slices – Loved by mealworms but attracts fruit flies
✔️ Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Kale, Spinach) – Extra vitamins
💡 Tip: Replace food every 2–3 days to prevent mold.
3. The Mealworm Life Cycle – What to Expect
Understanding their life cycle helps you harvest mealworms at the perfect stage.
🟢 Stage 1: Egg (Invisible to the Eye)
- Eggs hatch in 4–19 days, depending on temperature.
- Tiny and difficult to see in the bedding.
🟠 Stage 2: Larvae (Mealworm Stage – The Part Ants Eat!)
- This stage lasts 8–12 weeks.
- Best stage for feeding to ants!
- They molt 9–20 times before pupating.
⚪ Stage 3: Pupa (Transition to Beetle)
- Mealworms turn into pale, immobile pupae.
- This stage lasts 1–3 weeks before hatching into beetles.
⚫ Stage 4: Beetle (Darkling Beetle)
- Newly hatched beetles are pale white but darken within 48 hours.
- Beetles start laying eggs within 1–2 weeks.
🔗 The Ultimate Ant Feeding Guide
4. How to Keep Your Mealworm Farm Thriving
Once you have an established colony, maintenance is simple!
🔄 Feeding & Cleaning Schedule
✅ Feed vegetables every 2–3 days
✅ Replace moldy or dried-out food
✅ Sift out frass (waste) every 2 weeks
✅ Move pupae to a separate container to prevent cannibalism
🔹 How Many Can You Expect?
- A colony of 1000 beetles can produce 5000–10,000 mealworms per month!
5. Feeding Mealworms to Your Ants
Now that you’ve bred mealworms, it’s time to prepare them as food for your ants.
🐜 Best Ways to Feed Mealworms to Ants
🔪 Pre-Killed (Recommended for Most Ants)
- Best for beginner colonies.
- How? Simply crush the head or cut the worm in half.
- Why? Prevents mealworms from burrowing in the nest.
🐜 Live Feeding (For Large & Aggressive Species)
- Best for meat ants, bull ants, or jumping jacks.
- Caution: Mealworms may burrow and hide, so use a feeding dish.
🥩 Cut into Pieces (For Small Ants & Larvae)
- Best for smaller ants like sugar ants or big-headed ants.
- How? Chop into tiny sections to make it easy for workers to carry.
🍽 Gut-Loading for Extra Nutrition
- Before feeding mealworms to ants, gut-load them with healthy food for 24 hours.
- Best gut-loading foods: Carrots, leafy greens, or fish flakes.
🔗 The Ultimate Ant Feeding Guide
6. Final Thoughts – Should You Breed Mealworms for Ants?
Breeding mealworms is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to provide fresh, nutritious food for your ant colony. Whether you keep bull ants, sugar ants, meat ants, or jumping jacks, mealworms are an essential feeder insect.
🐜 Would you set up a mealworm farm for your ants? Let us know in the comments!
