Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Staple the hardware cloth on the wooden frame, and place it on the bottom of the sweater box.
Drill holes in the top of the box for ventilation. (You could also cut a square in the top and glue on a piece of window screen as an alternate means of letting air into the box.)
Fill the container to a height of 2 to 3 inches with a mixture of wheat bran and skim milk. The mixture should have one part milk for every three parts of wheat bran.
Place a slice of cabbage, for moisture, on a plastic container lid on top of the wheat bran.
Add the mealworms and place the top back on the box. Store the box in a warm, dark location. The ideal temperature for mealworms is 77 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check the container every two to three days, replenishing the wheat bran and milk mixture as needed and replacing the cabbage. You can experiment with different types of fruits and vegetables, such as potato, apple, kiwi and kale.
About once a month, discard the dust, called frass, that has fallen under the strainer.
Separate the live mealworms and beetles from the wheat bran about three times a year. Thoroughly wash and dry the container, replace the strainer and add fresh wheat bran and milk mix. Discard any dead mealworms, and replace the mealworms in the habitat. You can either discard the beetles, or use them to start a fresh colony.