Gather the supplies
Pour a one inch layer of oats into the bottom of each plastic container
Separate the pupa as soon as you start to notice them
Continue to check both containers regularly for advances in the life cycle
Remove adult beetles from the pupa container immediately
Check the adult beetle container regularly for eggs
Move the mealworms out of the adult beetle habitat and into the mealworm container upon hatching
Continue daily or weekly maintenance of the habitats
Dry oatmeal or other grain
An organic source of moisture that is not likely to mold quickly. Carrots work best for this, but you can also use other fruits and vegetables such as sliced or chopped potatoes or apples.
Plastic containers with air-holes drilled in the tops
Mealworms
Results indicate that there are 4 life cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. When cultivating these insects, it is key to separate them as they reach each different phase, which helps with the breeding process. After a female meal is breed, she lays up to 500 eggs that hatch in 4 to 19 days (Wikipedia). Depending on the food and environmental conditions, it may take up to 100 days for them to complete their life cycle. Results indicate that the stages of larva and adult have the greatest density of protein and are most valuable as a food source at these stages. As larva, the insects look like worms and have a very high protein value that can serve as a source of food for human and fish. Also, adult insects are very efficient at propagating new offspring and continuing the local colony and the source of protein.
Key notes of the research:
Keep mealworms at room temperature
Use 1-3 inches of oat bran as bedding/substrate. They will borrow in this DO NOT USE CEREAL (will mold)