How to Raise Mealworms

Prepare your mealworm habitat by cutting a hole out of the middle of the lid. Cut out a section of fine-mesh window screening material that is approximately 1/2 inch larger than the size of the hole. Glue the window screen to the inside of the lid.

Fill the bottom of the container with several inches of a grain-based substrate such as uncooked whole-grain oatmeal, wheat bran, cornmeal, whole wheat flour or oat bran. Sprinkle some dry brewer's yeast, skim milk or bone meal in the substrate to encourage insect growth. Cover about two-thirds of the food surface with two or three layers of cloth or newspaper, leaving space between the cover and the edges of the box. Place an aluminum pie pan in the uncovered portion of the meal.

Purchase live mealworms online or in a pet store and allow them to develop for several weeks. Add moisture to their diet by placing slices of apple, potato or cabbage in the pie pan. It will mold, so remove and replace it every two to three days. You can also sprinkle their food with calcium or vitamins.

Mealworms remain in the larval stage for around 10 weeks and molt approximately 15 times before pupating. Mature larvae curl up in a ball and turn into large whitish pupa, and remain in the pupal stage for several weeks before morphing into adult beetles. The adult beetles begin laying eggs between one and three weeks after they emerge. The larvae usually pupate between the layers of newspaper or cloth, and adult beetles lay their eggs on the cloth or in the food.

Collect the mealworms that you need by withholding moist food for a day or two, then add a wet paper towel or a moist lettuce leaf to the substrate. The worms will gather on the moist material. Shake them off into a separate container. You can also use a sifter or strainer to separate the worms from the substrate.