Alright, so i've taken my first venture into breeding mealies and super worms. Unfortunately all but one of my beetles that have successully pupated and 'hatched' have been rather odd looking. The shells that should be on their backs pretty much aren't there, or they are tiny shriveled little things, or they don't close properly. Also their bodies sem to be longer.
Do you think these ugly beetles will reproduce?
They also have a really hard time righting themselves when they fall over, so when I get home each day I have to go flip them all right side up.
I'm doing everything that the caresheet said, even the bedding is the same, any ideas on what is going on?
Should the pupae be kept on the bedding? it appears t stick to them when they are coming out and turning to beetles, i dont know if it is causing a problem or what....

__________________

"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Hi Lacey - I don't use anyhting for my mealies - they seem to hatch themselves into beetles in the tub they were orignally supplied in. I tried putting the beetles in a separate tub to see what they did and I spent 2 weeks 'flipping' them the right way until I could take no more and just put them back into the original box with the others!!

I haven't a clue about the proper way to do it as I didn't want to produce beetles and stuff in the first place (I nearly had a heart attack the first time I saw one and thought we had a castaway lol)

Good luck with the project though - hope you can sort it out okay

Hello,

To rectify the "flipping" toss some newspaper on top of the substrate. When the substrate is new, it is very light and fluffy. As the mealies eat their way through it, you will find it easier for the beetles.

The deformed beetles are often a result of inadequate moisture. You can lightly mist the newspaper to aid in humidity. (Don't soak it. It will mold the substrate.

__________________

Alright, thanks guys....I have egg cartons in there, but it seems that they just get flipped over inside of those too....stupid things! I'll try to news paper, thanks!

__________________

"What is now proven was once only imagined." - William Blake

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos