How to Remove Grain Mites from Mealworm Trays

Nobody wants to admit that they get grain mites, but it happens to every farmer at least once! Here is how I’ve been successfully tackling the pesky critters this past month.
Check out the rest of my videos for other helpful mealworm farming tips, and join our community of farmers at www.mealwormfarming.org. You can also search for our Facebook Group by searching for MEALWORM FARMING CO-OP!
music with permission from www.davidcuttermusic.com

[@rossevans3250]

My prevention: when I buy a bag of "substrate" (20 kg) I re-bag it into 1 to 2 kg lots using a vacuum bagging machine - just the standard kitchen type. This prevents the mites from having access to oxygen, which can slowly kill them. I then store these bags in my cupboards, and freeze them individually for at least a fortnight before using the substrate in my farm. These small bags easily fit in my freezer. And thanks for the advice.

[@WhoisBANE]

This is the ONLY VIDEO on KZbin that explains how to get rid of them I have them in my cabinets thanks

[@pvp6077]

Thanks so much for this, it seems like 99% of advice is just throw everything out, but not everyone can afford the time and investment of trashing their entire setup and purchasing new stock that might just as easily come with their own mites, even if you manage to clean every mite out of your house to prevent re-infestation. Preventative measures are great, but once it happens at least someone is teaching us how to actually deal with it, and it's not crazy or expensive either, it just takes a little dedicated effort Excellent video, time was not wasted at all, explanations were clear, examples were informative, alternative options were useful, and the added details were all worth including. I got to see exactly what to look for and how to deal with it, clearly and concisely. Great job, great video, A+ work here I really mean it

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Thanks for the great words! This was my main reason for making the video.. so many other farmers seem to look down on anyone who gets mites, and I wanted to show that even the best farmers can get them if they aren’t careful.

[@sunshinefarmstead843]

Came here to say this! I found one random guy talking about it and he just let them live. The make me all sneezy though. Ready to get rid of them!!

[@kimberlyposey7415]

@@spacecoastmealworms were you able to get rid of all the mites??

[@paulwiedeman6268]

Just be sure to keep at them. It's easy to think you are rid of them then find them coming back if you quit the low humidity stuff too soon. A few mites or a few eggs left might not get noticed and then they start again.

[@paulwiedeman6268]

Also I always heat bran to 130 Fahrenheit ( in the middle of the pan) for at least 1/2 hr before I use it. That is to kill any mites and eggs in the bran

[@timaddison307]

it would not surprise me that in a million years when they study our mommies they'll be studying our videos that we take. I have no doubt that in a million years they will be watching this person's video and he will be mentioned and be remembered maybe not now maybe not even in a hundred years but he will be talked about

[@Supra_Na96]

Soo I did exactly as you showed, and thought I’d try something extra in case I missed any. I got a bag of those little plastic Togo cups I think they are meant for condiments? I kept the veggies out of the main part of the bin, And I put one cup in each corner of the bin, with a carrot that I covered in vegetable oil. The next morning there were mites all over the carrots but they were dead.

[@ItsPizza.]

This is still the ONLY video that shows how to banish these nasty mites. I also learned i need to freeze my mealworm bedding. So thank you twice :^)

[@Nibbles2point0]

My mites also sprouted out of the same rainbow bin rack you have. I had baby bins in there. They were all over the entire surface of the rack and were everywhere. I had to just combine all the small baby bins into one big bin and try to grow them out a little before feeding to my chickens. It was a big setback! My superworm beetles were also infested, but they were easy to clean off. I shifted out all the bran and veggies and tossed them, rinsed off the beetles in a strainer, and washed their drawers. Luckily it only took one washing and they were gone. It really is a chore though!! I keep the humidity as low as I can get it now and that has proved to be the most useful. It’s 45%RH now, but it was 90% over the summer! My farm is in my creepy basement which has other bugs and critters. The now lower humidity is keeping those huge basement crickets from moving back in as well. It’s a good space for mealworms though. It doesn’t get too cold over winter or hot in summer. Great video as always!!! I will definitely be using the Vaseline method if I ever am unfortunate enough to get mites again!

[@blakesoller9623]

Thank you for the info i have not had a mite problem yet but now im prepared. I have one of you sifting trays and a bridge and love them makes life so easy

[@martinwarburton3602]

I followed your suggestions and it worked, thank you.

[@rachelkunz611]

Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!! I found some little white mites and had no idea what they were. I appreciate this video!!!!!!!!!

[@mostlytanks447]

Awesome, thank you brotha. Just had an outbreak in my worm culture so now I’ve got a solution for when I go home today.

[@chrissymadden3870]

So very happy to find your video. I wish I would had found it just a little sooner. Just had my first outbreak and it freaked me out. I threw everything away because the trash truck was coming through today. I'm still cleaning all around the area where the infestation was. With some research and your great info video I now know what I have and how to take care of this problem. If it happens again I will be well prepared. No need to throw all my bins, worms, bugs and everything else away in the trash. Thanks to you.👍

[@jim1550]

You can also use an old plastic membership card or putty scraper to get the bulk of the Vaseline off then do the wipe.

[@pandaphreak]

I just finished removing the little mites. Had to sift all my beetles and larvae out and then washed the bin, wiped the countertop and everything around that area because they were caked on. They duplicate really fast. Didn't know about the petroleum jelly though, so I will definitely try that out. BTW, yes, you need to be careful to not get the wipe chemicals on the substrate. in my earlier years of farming, I was careless and the chemicals will burn holes in your beetles. It's really sad and I learned real fast to be careful of any wipe drips.

[@vals1065]

Thanks so much for making this video, I was about to throw in the towel and give up on raising my own mealworms.

[@Edigor100]

thank you so much, Ive been dealing with this issue lately and you're a lifesaver

[@aussiegal22]

Thank you so much for posting this very informative video. We have just recently discovered our first outbreak and are in the process of getting rid of them. After reading "Kiril Yankov" and knowing that I heat treated all of our bran and oats and I am 100% confident that this was not the source, I am now convinced that it was a lettuce leaf I place in the effected box, as we have never had an issuee untill a few days after I place the leaf in. Off to research both root aphids and grain mites :).

[@aussiegal22]

@@quadros8948 ?

[@harryhefner9785]

I strain out all the large worms and quickly rinse them off with warm water under the sink. Dry off on a paper towel. Place them in clean brain. Wipe the sides with rubbing alcohol. Just a couple days and they are all gone. Just my way.. awesome video.

[@gsvmom]

Are your mealworms harmed by being rinsed?

[@harryhefner9785]

@@gsvmom i have never noticed any losses.

[@FusionDeveloper]

@@gsvmom the only losses could be mealworm eggs, nothing else.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

I did the same thing. No mealworms were harmed in the process!

[@ashleyr4110]

Can u freeze the old bran?or heat it to reuse it

[@kalebkongable5170]

this video is very informative , thanks for making

[@bernadettegrisham676]

Try a cotton ball with the oil. I also would use a plastic cup for the oil and food. I love your videos. Very informative.

[@M00nbeam]

Thank you for posting this.

[@rece76cs]

This is great to know. I just found a out break in 2 of my bins and didn't know what to do other then throw out everything 🥺 it's wonderful to know that I can save my little set up. Thank you so much 💓

[@FknNefFy]

Ahh thank you!!!! Omg before I knew I had this problem I was so itchy after coming back inside one day and the I kept seeing them on my arms and hands and started buggin’ ew ew ew ew!

[@supabiscuit]

Just found my first 5 beetles while watching this..... The progress is real

[@TheZachatree]

I sifted mine and then did this trick and it worked well

[@ggsworld7270]

I've been tackling a mite problem for a couple of months now. I didn't know I had the problem, thinking it was just dust on the floor from the bran...turned out to be a sea of mites !! I was shocked to say the least. I've been working on fixing the problem and have gotten it contained to 4 small drawers now ...or so I thought. I put into action your vaseline trick which has contained them in those 4 drawers and I'm using little medicine cups to attract them into the oil which is working. But then I have seen activity on the frame of the rainbow drawers today. I figured that they have scaled my rainbow drawers frame from the concrete floor and into 2 newly set up pupa drawers. So today, I separated out the pupa again, given them a good shake, hopefully not damaging them in the process, and given the rainbow drawers and everything else a good hot soapy clean and sun dry. I'm working on the premise that there are more on the floor than I can see, so I've put all 4 wheels into containers of soapy water so that the mites can't climb up from the floor. I'm constantly spraying a soapy water solution on the floor and anything that is in contact with the floor for a good few meters. I have no idea how far they travel, but I'm getting on top of them gradually. I bake my bran in the microwave for 3 minutes per bowl. It does work, but I reckon I've mixed up a treated bag and a non treated bag of bran, and therefore let them in. My beetles are safe, and also 2 drawers of mature mealworms are safe too...plus tubs in the fridge. Thanks for your video on the mites eradication, it's been a good find.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

GG's World good to hear you’re tackling the problem successfully! I forgot to mention the water trick with the tower wheels, so good call! Now that my notes are mostly gone I still am weary now whenever I see bran dust in my trays. I’m constantly wiping them clean just in case!

[@ggsworld7270]

@@spacecoastmealworms yes I check with a magnifying glass now when I see the dust...just to be sure

[@sunshinefarmstead843]

Same.... I was like.... is that dust moving?!

[@magicdaveable]

Great Video! Thanks!

[@paulwiedeman6268]

Grain mites are easy to get rid of. When I get a infestation I heat the bin to about 92 F and let them dry out to about 15-25% relative humidity. I put a small piece of wet cardboard in the same spot in the bin regularly and change it maybe 3 to 4 times a day. Shake off the mealworms and discard the old cardboard with mites still attached. I make sure there is no other source of moisture and never wet the cardboard so much that it runs into the substrate (maybe just soak then shake off the excess water). Put the cardboard in the same place everytime so the mites don't have to travel far. Mites further away will die after a while at low humidity. After a few days the mites die out. Keep doing this a couple extra days after the mites are gone so any eggs that hatch get caught. Easy Peasy. Mites don't like low humidity. They die out below about 30% rf. No need for oil or vaseline. Mites don't travel much unless they are crowded. They ride on mealworms but the worms will crowd around the wet cardboard. Mealworms can survive at lower humidity and higher temperatures then mites. I have had them at 110 F briefly with low mortality

[@tribalcorngaming]

This is the kind of info I was looking for. I've been breeding my main colony for a number of years now and only just recently gotten infested with these mites and I didn't want to kill the whole breeding stock. I also didn't want to put chemicals anywhere close as they feed all my geckos and spiders. My mealworms are very used to breeding and living in 65 degree F temps whereas whenever I get new stock from other places to outcross with and they tend to die out, breed slowly, or pupate incorrectly and die. I am worried about heating them to 100+ but considering they've survived hot summers at those temperatures I would rather risk heat death of a few than letting the colony get swallowed by mites. I had two colonies a super large and my long time one but I might combine them and treat the whole group.

[@orenrez655]

Nice! So just open the lid and heat it up with heating pads and it should kill them? How about unhatched eggs? Will they stay dorm untill next time humidity comes back?

[@paulwiedeman6268]

I'm not sure if the eggs die but if you get a reinfestation just doing the same thing again should work

[@paulwiedeman6268]

I just had an infestation of what I believe are broad mites possibly from infected fruit. They seem to multiply faster then grain mites and are more mobile. They are also smaller so easier to miss. They seem to respond to being kept dry by dieing but they don't collect on the damp cardboard as well. I'm killing them by removing all moisture so they get too dry for mites but the worms survive. It's a bit trickier to do this but it seems to work. I wonder if washing fruit off with soap and hot water would prevent this.

[@dovesegypt6890]

Thank you so much for your time and for your exciting useful video. Actually I have a question why do we them basically? Or what brought them to our bins? Thank you in advance.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Their eggs are laid in the bran wherever the wheat is originally processed. The silos are likely filled with millions of mites, feasting in whatever they can eat!

[@kingsha7774]

Waoo..very good information

[@WillyBunao]

thanks for the info. we just got 2pieces of leopard gecko they are maybe 6 to 8 weeks old and i am planning to breed mealworms for their food consumptions. i believe it is cheaper that way to just breed instead of buying every other day or every week. maybe one day i am gonna have a problem or encounter on this grain mites atleast i have now the idea to get rid of them. thanks ones again and have a good one.

[@magicdaveable]

I live where winters are very long and very cold. I fill Rubbermaid Roughneck gray plastic 20 gallon trash cans 3/4 full with mealworm food. I use a 50/50 mix of fine cornmeal and wheat bran. I leave the trash barrels outdoors through the winter. By the following Spring my mix is free of any mites. At least I have not seen any evidence of mites. I recently purchased a very large chest freezer. I freeze my cornmeal and wheat bran for over a month. The mealworm food freezer is dedicated for freezing bran and cornmeal.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

The only time I’ve ever had mites or pantry flies are from the two times I purchased wheat bran at Tractor Supply. I normally get the 40-50lb bags from my local feed store. I think the supplier has a lot to do with it as well..

[@markpate4295]

Thank you for this. I am doing it now. I had the idea to use grease but thought the high stick tape would stop them, but they walk right through the adhesive. The beetles usually eat the mites. My mistake was giving the mites egg crates and cardboard. Don't do it. The dust made is a breeding bed for mites.

[@markpate4295]

You know I didn't have this before the bran meal bag I just purchased from my local feed store.

[@FknNefFy]

Okay I’m all itchy now.lol thank you for all this info

[@homesteadinginthecity]

Thank you so much, just discovered then in my bins😔

[@mrsbroach]

pan scraper would be really handy for this purpose. (pamperchef or a cheap brand)

[@MagnaMater2]

Ha! Thank you, I kept my mealworms too moist and they spread. I just learned that there's a grocer's itch, and that were my symptoms then and I blamed the poor birds for bringing in moss mites, that were innocent.

[@realposeidongaming2297]

I found if i cook then freeze the grain havnt had a problem been at it for a year and a half seems to work great for me

[@alicenakajima6014]

Real Poseidon Gaming do you spread the grain on a baking sheet (how thick) and put in the oven, if so at what temperature and for how long please?

[@realposeidongaming2297]

I put roughly 1 1/2 to 2 inches on a cookie sheet spread out i put my oven on the lowest temp 170 leave on for 10 mins then i put in the freezer for 24 hrs

[@KelseyKoch]

Have you ever used PTFE Teflon tape? I know bed bugs can't climb on it, I wonder if mites could? If it worked and was to slippery to climb, that would create a permanent barrier, you'd then just need to wipe the mites down, no more jelly. Love the content.

[@milahu]

the white pizza dough trays also come with teflon coating ... but expensive

[@Nibbles2point0]

I panicked when you put your gloved fingers in the second tray without changing gloves!!! Watch that bin now!

[@leothelion1035]

This was a super helpful video. Just wanted to know how long does it usually take between changing bran and seeing the mites, I just changed bran and have a suspicion that it might have mites. However it’s only been about a week from changing, and I’m not entirely sure if that’s too soon for them to hatch. Thanks in advance for the help.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Great question! Doesn’t help that bran dust also looks like mites! What I do whenever I’m suspicious (and I’m a lot more suspicious since having mites) is wipe down the sides of the bins and check for any new white flecks the next day. If you have mites they’ll be there!

[@milahu]

.. or use a microscope ; )

[@gorgi-g]

When you get rid of the mites, do you sift the bugs through the same strainer?

[@FknNefFy]

Wish I knew about this before they took over my little farm. Not sure how to separate out the mealworms and Beatles now 😑

[@katherinebonsol6854]

Hi there, thank you for the informative video. Someone recommended it on a reptile page I'm on on Facebook. I do have a quick question. I tried googling it, but I didn't find anything. I'm just starting out with mealworm farming, on a very small scale. I only have one bearded dragon and it's more of a hobby/see if I can save a bit of money. My first batch of baby mealworms ended up having mites. I quarantined them away from any other grain sources and put the small container they were in in a bowl of shallow water. I've been really careful to make sure that I wash my tongs after using them on that bin and before working on another bin. After a week or so, I didn't notice any more mites. They were literally crawling up the side of the container before, and suddenly, there were none. I didn't change anything other than putting it in a bowl of water (it's a small bin, so easy to separate from all the others). Do baby mealworms eat mites or their eggs? They have the wheat bran to eat and I put in tiny slivers of veggies for them as well. I just found it odd that there is absolutely no sign of mites now, not even in the bran. TIA for any help/ideas!

[@phibrindacier1916]

I suppose that tea tree oil kills the mites (to be confirmed by someone?). I tested it on mealworms and it doesn't kill them. So might be useful.

[@phibrindacier1916]

Because tea tree oil kills every parasites

[@shaunnewby5826]

Could you use a piping bag for the vassaleen if you had a few to cleen

[@SamatWar]

On average how many beetles can you fit in your large black tubs? I would assume less tha the worms correct? And is it always a 100% that each worm would pupate into a beetle or sometimes they dont make it?

[@CoralMan24]

Have you ever tried PAM? which is Prevent A Mite spray for reptiles breeders wonder if it would kill or prevent grain mites. Just thought I would throw that idea out there or question :)

[@FknNefFy]

I tried Vaseline and it was gross and messy. Then I used duct tape along the top of the bin (sticky side down like a lid would go but just on the e edge.) I also added ground up split peas and for some reason that kills the mites and doesn’t bother the worms

[@Nopunsforyou]

So... Should I just clean the walls or cause I don't have aquaphor does it still work if I just use disinfecting wipes and olive oil? They're already escaped and I I've been taking care of them but...

[@skelemn3721]

What are the negative affects of grain mites? Also how long would you recommend I put gallon bags of bran in the freezer for to kill any eggs? Thanks!

[@joseestebanesquivelvalenci2789]

they consume food, therefor leaving your mealworms wihout any on the long term, and also they can go to your food items and infest them

[@Somthinsup]

What city on the space coast are you located? Do you sell to individuals or only stores?

[@billsmith2593]

What's your opinion about building a moat of soapy water around the mealworm bin to drown the mites?

[@hh_herpetology3373]

Old comment but you can also use diatomaceous earth around the bins It wouldn’t work in this setup though because his tubs are suspended!

[@Farahsreality]

You have to heat the bran in the oven or microwave first, to kill the mites before putting the beetles or worms, as they say, prevention is cheaper than the cure 😊

[@chaoskings296]

Can I microwave the chick starter food in with the wheat bran. Can it come in on carrots from the grocery store. It started in my eggs too, I’m a newbie.

[@paulwiedeman5781]

Careful about freezing to get rid of mites. I read that the eggs can survive a long time at typical freezer temperatures. I heat bran to 130f for a 1/2 hr (oven about 185f for 2 hrs). If eggs do survive it might be a week or two before you notice mites and you may not realize where they come from.

[@S.Trades]

I guess your electricity is cheaper than ours!

[@DanielRizza]

What did you do to get them to climb out of the bins?

[@FknNefFy]

Use a glass jar for your cup

[@MrBlack0950]

So i just set up traps and clean the walls? That it?

[@teambrad3777]

Dog food and oil as traps- brilliant! Can cat food be used as well?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

I don’t see why not. As long as it is grain-based

[@arseniyseleznovveroboj1571]

Можно, чтобы не чистить и смазывать каждый раз, разогреть борта, и загнуть их вовнутрь. Личинки в моей таре, с загнутыми вовнутрь бортами несколько раз пытались сбежать, но не смогли. Метод невыливайки работает и для насекомых. Извините что пишу по русски (английский почти не понимаю)..

[@99thecakeisalie]

I purchased a box of mealworms from pets at home, within a week these mites invaded my house...

[@shellygriffith6260]

How did you get rid of them from all over your house! I have a breakout now and am mortified they’ll spread to the rest of my house?

[@ApiaryManager]

It occurs to me that a clothes lint roller might collect the mites below the petroleum jelly. Have you tried this?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

No, but definitely worth trying if you ever get them!

[@S.Trades]

I've started freezing bags of bran for 48 hours, before use. Everyone says how cool it is to propagate mealworms, but no one tells you about these horrible grain mites!

[@marissafleming1180]

Thank you for this video. I'm wondering what keeps the mites from just staying in the bin and reproducing?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Same reason why seeds fly away in the wind - maximum dispersal!

[@myobs]

@@spacecoastmealworms I was thinking the same as Marissa. What stops the mites reproducing in the bin in perpetuity and what does your initial answer mean? 'Same reason why seeds fly away in the wind - maximum dispersal!' It doesn't make sense at all! You seem to be simply containing the mites in the bin rather than getting rid of them?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

@@myobs Their goal (as with most life on earth) is to reproduce and continue their species. This is why they spread out away from their colony. Access to basic needs drops when population density increases, so it makes sense to instinctively spread out away from each other in search for more resources. Mealworms do this as well, right before they pupate, knowing that they are prone to cannibalism while in pupae form. This is why they all gather around the edges of your bins as mature worms.. they are trying to spread out. Mites are dying inside the bin because they are drying out (assuming you are no longer adding carrots or other moisture sources).

[@myobs]

@@spacecoastmealworms Thanks for taking the time to clarify that with a detailed explanation, it’s appreciated. I may have missed the reason for you going to the trouble of trapping the mites in the first place? I assumed the reason you didn’t just throw the contents of the bin, including the mites, away was because there were still some eggs contained within the bin? If this was so, then wouldn’t you be placing food in there for the newly hatched mealworms and therefore, the mites too? I’ll have to watch the video again. Thanks again and all the best.

[@FknNefFy]

So they come from grain I think I’ll freeze the oatmeal for a week before adding it to kill any chance of this agaon!

[@ricks2907]

Have you ever tried using powdered peas. Just sprinkle and mites die and worms are fine. I saw a guy on KZbin doing that. Cheers Ricky 💃🕺🎵🐈‍⬛🦗🐊🎸😳🪳🧜‍♀️🐓🤷‍♀️

[@cybertones942]

I got lazy and used fresh oats and also bought mealworms recently and boom few days of rain and the sight wasn’t pleasing knowing I had to move and clean stuff, also sifted my worms and beetles thankfully I don’t have many bins. Just thinking they’re everywhere even on the walls

[@feafur]

Okay, I don't have mites, but occasionally I get fruit flies and "hive beetles" ( the beetles that attack honey bees ) My farm is on my front porch because my house is too small! LOL Is there anything I can do to keep those guys out?

[@SamatWar]

Btw how big is your shed? Like the dimensions, it looks like a great work space

[@spacecoastmealworms]

MrSamatwar95 it’s 12x20. I feel like I’m already running out of space, but I think I just need to utilize my loft area better.

[@SamatWar]

@@spacecoastmealworms thanks for the reply, ur awsome. I feel like a standard isle system would maximize space. But your shed looks like an awsome lounge area so you'd have to sacrifice that epic lounge :(

[@SamatWar]

P.s maybe instead of a standard table. Use a roll away table or large cart with a bottom lv for your sitting buckets and trays

[@spacecoastmealworms]

MrSamatwar95 one of my big ideas was to try to put everything on casters so I could rearrange as needed and to make cleaning easier. I need to rebuild my black tub tower since it’s too tall, and then I can rearrange the shed properly. On top of all of that I have just purchased a laser cutter (have been subcontracting the work out) for my sifting trays. So now I need to make space for this and for all of its supplies as well.. never ending work! 😂

[@SamatWar]

@@spacecoastmealworms ahh that would be even a better idea because than you would need room to walk between isles you can just roll each tower out, there fore fitting more towers because they're wont need a gap in between. "Big brain moves"

[@gamewithadam7235]

Just heat the bran for 20 minutes and kill the mites before giving to the mealworms.

[@DanielRizza]

Thanks for the info! I will try this method. What am I supposed to do to prevent them showing up in the first place? This is my first time with mealworms.

[@arvintot555]

His advice is freeze your wheat bran or grains that you willnuse as bedding or feed.

[@DanielRizza]

I see that now. I’m still trying to get rid of them.

[@fbiagent3399]

@@arvintot555 what if I bake the oats in the oven for like 10minutes?

[@arvintot555]

@@fbiagent3399 this is just based on my research (Google), yes Higher Temp will kill them faster, and will also destroy the eggs, 150F actual temp of the oats for 5 to 10 mins. Then the suggestion is to cool and keep unused oats in Freezer. Keep in mind this is prevention. On the other hand, if you take all the worms and beetles off and then stick the infested bedding in the oven, you will be able to kill them off too, then put the worms and beetles back in after cooling. BUT how to make sure beetles and worms don't carry the mites back to reinfect the beddings again? :(

[@fbiagent3399]

@@arvintot555 well Ig 1ns A week bake the new oats all the time Idk lol

[@lenarowell9494]

What do the mites do to the worms? half of my new beetles are deformed is that why? ;(

[@parrots4life74]

nothing at all. as the name implies they feed off of grain only

[@pprogram]

sir how about to get rid of the mites in the substrate? thank you...

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Did you see the cup filled with dog food and oil?

[@dawnschneider4688]

I put the wheat bran im going to use in microwave for 5 min too kill any thing.

[@sandybeaches1974]

I unfortunately smoked out my whole house and microwave trying to do that. Thought i ruined my brand new microwave.

[@CelebrityLyrics]

I have been breeding superworms and for a year I was breeding them very rapidly. The superworms were always hungry and growing fast. Now after these mites took over my whole container and any objects near it, the production of super worms have decreased a lot. I have tried this petroleum jelly method but all it does is contain them, not get rid of them. If I microwave the whole wheat bran then all the superworms will die with it so im stuck in a rock and a hard place.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Sift out the worms and briefly wash them in water. Place them back in new, sterile bran.

[@TexasOrganicGardening]

Are mites an issue if you feed oatmeal vs bran?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Don’t think it matters. They can be found in all grain materials

[@Mar-ft9xu]

Personally I put all of my mealworms and beetles into a different container by hand, and then dumped the oats outside. Then with a gloved hand I squished as many as I could, set the lid and box in the tub, sprayed with a bleach mix, and poured boiling water over everything.

[@UnisausS1]

What do you use for bedding now, & What have you tried for bedding ? Also with what you have all tried, which do you think is the best bedding to use; what would you recommend ?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Mealworms love a variety of grains. I have used oats, wheat bran, chicken starter crumbles, and even spent brewer’s grains. Ultimately for me I prefer wheat bran because it sifts well and is cheaper than other options.

[@UnisausS1]

@@spacecoastmealworms : right now I’m using oatmeal. I don’t know if it’s the oatmeal itself, but when I put carrots in, the moisture from the carrots make the oatmeal bedding clumpy & nasty ! Turns it to a dead green, almost grey color. Do you have any problems with this ?? For the last 4 days, most of my worms either stopped moving, or slowed down to not moving at all, ! I thought I did something wrong. I turned the heat up thinking they were cold. Then last night I looked in my bin, 30 pupas ! OMG !! I need to make room for the 30 new beetles that are coming so I decided to feed my frogs some of the older beetles ! They went to town on feeding ! It was AWSOME to watch !

[@UnisausS1]

@@spacecoastmealworms : I was also wondering, can a MIXTURE of fine grains also be ok for the bedding, or does it have to be just one grain ??

[@scottjost857]

@@UnisausS1 a mixtures is perfectly fine, and I’m sure the worms will prefer it! Regarding the clumping, have you tried cutting the carrots down into smaller pieces or even shredding them? Doing this will provide extra surface area, and the carrots will get eaten faster (and thus leaving behind less waste and moisture).

[@UnisausS1]

@@scottjost857 : never tried that ! Hmm 🤔 Going to try it ! Thank you ! Hope you don’t mind me askin questions. Right now the bedding is an experiment till I see what they like the best !!

[@maloperropalermo79]

@Space Coast Mealworms, do you think this method also works with the breeding of cockroaches latheralis???

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Aside from the roaches that try infest my house here in Florida, I have no experience with cockroaches.

[@jim1550]

If you are talking about red runners, then it is going to be pretty difficult to get rid of them without trashing the whole colony. The high humidity the mites like also is required for the runners to breed. The only way I know that you can do is get some gallon ziplock bags, bleached non self rising flour, Pick out all the roaches you can individually into another sanitized bin. Put a handful of flour in the bag with the roaches and do the shake and bake. Only for about 5 seconds or so. Then dump them out into a new sanitized bin and jostle most of the flour off them. The flour will dehydrate the mites, make sure the new breeding bin you put them in stays dry with no food for a few days with the Vaseline around the rim. That worked for me but it took a few times.

[@mikesomeone1204]

Either heat or freeze the feed before you use it to get rid of the mites before they start.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

This is correct.

[@CristobalAtria]

I'm having this same issue and I'm curious: Can you feel the smell of the dead mites when you wipe them or squash them? I feel this smell every time I squash them in big numbers. Thanks for the info!!

[@551gaming4]

Do you think I can get a similar size plastic yoghurt pot to put oil in so the mites get in but my worms dont

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Doesn’t hurt to try! Only thing is to have a container the kites can crawl up. I don’t see why they couldn’t crawl up a yogurt cup

[@551gaming4]

@@spacecoastmealworms I made my own traps by cutting up plastic bottles and they were covered in them after a day I checked the next day and there was nowhere near as much hopefully the mites are dead

[@rachelhughes2837]

Iv seen I have mites in my friut fly tub and beetles/ meal worms tub Iv had to rescue the beetles, wash them with water and put them in a ventilated enclosure I used for my jumping spider, and I picked up as much of my meal worms as I could and washed them with water I tried to use a siv but it wasn't that great but was able to rinse then and put them in. The rest I had to throw outside, it was too infested. I had loads of mites along the corners of the ceiling above my bedroom window and my window sill so wiped that down washed everything. I'm hoping what is left of the mites will Die off now there isn't any food source for them. I am going to re wash my window sill and hoover the carpet incase theyr in the carpet aswell. Iv had hay fever symptoms for a few weeks and now I know why! Im allergic to the mites. Iv put weetabix cereal with them as they are dry so hopefully if any is still with them now, theyl die. If not il just throw them away. I feel itchy lol

[@heidivonskye4627]

I'm not sure if it's this, but whenever I have breeding beetles, when I transfer the bedding/eggs theres a bunch of beige powder that seems to crawl up and around whatever container I put the eggs in. Is this mites?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

If it’s small like powder and moving, yes.

[@heidivonskye4627]

@@spacecoastmealworms Yes, and beige and gets into EVERYTHING. I was afraid it was eggs!!

[@stacywhite75]

They came with my mantis feeder insects and they've migrated to my computer, nightstand, floor, planters, mantis terrariums, EVERYWHERE I look pretty much! =....( what do I do in this case? I'm beside myself with exhaustion. They were even on my massage table. Is there a spray I can use? Neem oil mixture or peroxide? I know 91% alcohol doesn't kill them ( if you can believe that one.) I even tried Eco-Mite Botanical Insecticide Miticide and it did absolutely nothing.

[@arvintot555]

I just did an experiment yesterday 70% IPA, sprayed directly at the grain mites, at first it looked like they were unaffected, but after 10 minutes when I came back they were all dead. So Alcohol will kill them for sure.

[@pvp6077]

90+% actually doesn't contain enough water, ironically 70% is better for this and for disinfecting because of the higher water content that penetrates bacterial walls and insect shells Tbh the first thing I tried when it happened to me (before thinking to google "tiny white bugs", "what do mites look like" and "remove mites from superworm colony" instructions) was straight vinegar on a paper towel and im not sure if it was the acidity or just how wet the cloth was but it did kill them straight off. Almost everything says just throw them out and start over except this and like one single article. Trying the oil and cup methods now and hoping for the best

[@amdidlo]

Diatomaceous earth (food grade) will kill them but keep it away from any pet with an exoskeleton as it will kill them. They also have anti-mite paper you can buy and line cabinets, tables, drawers, etc. with. Additionally, they sell antimite spray that works very well with killing them. If the terrarium you have your mantis in is infested, I've heard you can put a slice of cucumber in to attracts them and then remove and replace it everyday until they are gone. Most importantly, cleaning habitat of all dead insect carcasses will help as it removes their food source.

[@giorgioruggerozanolini2363]

hello is it possible to find a feed that kills them without harming the mealwhorms?

[@jordynmcintosh4528]

Does this work also for getting rid of them in my ball python enclosure?? I keep getting them somehow and tired of throwing everything away, so much money wasted.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

I don’t see why not

[@yankeeredneck7229]

You should have three buckets one with fluted bleach water 1 with alcohol at one with clean hot water and all with their own rags

[@gamewithadam7235]

How do you even tell if you have mites if you can't see them easily and only have like 2 to start with?

[@leila7881]

You can see them with naked eye

[@gamewithadam7235]

@@leila7881 Oh.

[@markpate4295]

I am using 🥥 oil. So the worms can enjoy a snack😊

[@spacecoastmealworms]

That's great

[@KirilYankov]

I just had these last week. I think what I and you have is not wheat mites, but root aphids. It comes not from the bran but from carrots, potatoes too. But they love carrots and multiply in matter of hours. What i did is sift the mealworms and moved them to a clean tray. Then put the mealworms in clean bin and no carrots for couple of days. No aphids so far.

[@aussiegal22]

We are newbies to mealworm farming. We started 8 months ago. We have had our first outbeak in the last week, in our beetle box. We have one of those double box systems with the flywire bottom in the top box, so the eggs and fass fall through. I caught the outbreak quickly, but it seems to have come from the bottom box not the actual beetle box (top box), A few days before I found the outbreak, I had place (for the first time ever) a lettuce leaf in the bottom box as I noticed eggs where hatching and I wanted to give them some moisture to chew on, as I wasn't ready to move them to a new box (glad I didn't now). We heat treat all our bran and oats and as this outbreak only occured in the beetle box and none of our worm boxes I am convinced they came from the lettuce leaf. So I am glad you poste dthis as I am now going to go a research root aphids. Thank you :).

[@KirilYankov]

@@aussiegal22 I started out 3 months ago with handfull of worms, keeping only 4-5 small containers. Also new to mealworm farming:)

[@douglasdishroon1834]

Hello all. Is there a grain I can use that doesn't come with mites? Such as oatmeal? TY

[@spacecoastmealworms]

All grains are stored in silos on farm while it awaits processing. This is where mites and other insects are introduced.

[@douglasdishroon1834]

@@spacecoastmealworms Oh ty. I put myself through some rough winters working in a feed mill. I guess I should have asked if companies treated the grain before packaging it. TY

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

The ones in the Grain are still in there eating and reproducing?

[@spacecoastmealworms]

They naturally want to spread apart from each other, I’m guessing to lay eggs. This spreading is how they get trapped. You can also add split pea flour to the substrate, which naturally kills them

[@tailfeather5213]

Can they live outside of the bins without grain like the carpet and bedsheets

[@spacecoastmealworms]

Unfortunately yes

[@tailfeather5213]

@@spacecoastmealworms I had a small bin of mealworm that got damp and started molding and I noticed that the frass was moving(they are outside I plans on taking all the worms and pupae out and duping them in water and putting them into another bin without oats and grains) but I kept them on the carpet next to the vent I’m my bedroom. I’m worried that they will never go away

[@tailfeather5213]

Even if I can’t see them

[@hotwheelindeals6805]

Just freeze your substrate overnight in a deep freeze and you will never get mites. I use oatmeal in the cardboard tubs. As soon as I get them home I take the plastic lid and paper seal off the tops and set them open in the deep freeze until the next day. I have never had mites in my mealworm tubs in 10 years of raising them. Heat doesn't always kill them off, but freezing is guaranteed.

[@spacecoastmealworms]

If you watch the video you’ll hear that I freeze mine as well. The one time I didn’t is the time I got these mites

[@kayelacarrico9413]

What about torching them with a torch lighter around the edges u can seriously hear them popping

[@godlywoman7625]

I get these from time to time I my bird cage from the bird food. Sucks. Grosses me out. But we did this method. We took the torch and went all over the cage and burned them. Easier and less messy

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

Blue dawn on the floor might stop them moving all over, kills ants

[@Liopholis]

oh boi, my tiny farm has these mites too. im fucked lol

[@fuad8244]

Try to microwave the oat for 5 minutes before using it , for safety and to kill any mits or thier eaas as well as reduce moisture in the oat.

[@atozflypz5301]

I heard that's counterproductive and traps moisture.

[@fuad8244]

@@atozflypz5301 thier are only 2 ways that i know that would kill the mits and forgin things eggs , 1 microwave 5 mins or 2 put in the freezer for 10 days so the moisture in the eggas would expand and blow the eggs.