How to sift pupae in a mealworm farm - it's actually really easy!

To get a pupae sifter like what is in the video, head to www.spacecoast...
#mealworms #mealwormfarm #insectfarm #howtoraisemealworms #smallbusiness #geckos #leopardgecko #crestedgecko #beardies #beardeddragon #reptiles #feeders #insects #bluebird #bluebirds #chickens #chickenfeed #urbanchickens #backyardchickens #homestead #homesteading

[@spacecoastmealworms]

great video as always, and thanks for the plug!

[@SupremeGecko]

Great video

[@MidwestMealworms]

Thank you sir, I enjoyed making this style, am going to try some more of it.

[@SupremeGecko]

@@MidwestMealworms You already have a nice blend of 'getting to know you', 'fun and entertaining', and 'educational' videos. Great job

[@brendaposey4476]

I have the space past tower. I bought every size. However, the large mealworms are all the way to the bottom tray. I did not find it helpful for sizing mealworms. What size are you using for sorting Pupa? Also, you told me what size mesh screen you use, but would you repeat for me!

[@MidwestMealworms]

I using the XL pupae sifter. My smaller pupae go through, but that's a result of my rearing issues....

[@zankrajnc813]

hello, so im wondering where did you buy the black trays?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Any big box home store will have then, they are cement mixing tubs.

[@milansmiljanic8057]

Hi. Why you are wearing a mask?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Mealworm frass (their poop) aerosols very easily and is an allergen. It triggers my asthma, anyone who raises mealworms should wear a full face respirator to protect their eyes and lungs.

[@milansmiljanic8057]

@@MidwestMealworms Thanks for the answer.

[@handmaidblessings]

Very good! We keep some of the paper towels with the Beatles in bins. They love laying eggs in the towels. Thank you!

[@MidwestMealworms]

Lately I've been thinking.....maybe any surface would be good.......hmmmm.......

[@ABeautifulMine]

I've had a question/idea in my head for months regarding this. So we know mealworms come to the surface to pupate. What I've been wondering is what if you had a screen with holes larger than the largest worms, and set it on top but kinda push it down into the substrate a little. Then you could top feed like normal, and they won't pull the food all the way in. And, when you're ready to harvest pupa, you can lift the screen up and they're all just there. And bonus the old food is too, so easy to change out. Thoughts?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Mealworms come to the surface to pupate?

[@ABeautifulMine]

@@MidwestMealworms I've never run a large operation, but in my smaller farm that's been my experience. I rarely, although occasionally, find one below the substrate. In your farm do they not surface?

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@ABeautifulMine I would say they are generally on the surface, but whether that's because they go to the surface to pupate or they naturally end up there I'm not sure. Once they pupate they don't move well, so when they are with lots of other larvae they go where the larvae push them.

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@ABeautifulMine I'd recommend testing this idea though, if it works it would be a potential major time saver.

[@ABeautifulMine]

@@MidwestMealworms thanks for the reply! I once read they surface to pupate, and saw it happening in my bins, so i didn't even consider the larvae moving them around. It makes a lot of sense, and they do move the food down into the substrate a similar manner. I'll play around with it some and see what happens. You never know!

[@ChHasib-o2y]

I am from pakistan so summer range from 30 degree to 45 Is that weather suitable??

[@MidwestMealworms]

Mealworms do best in 80 F. Higher and it risks die off, lower and they'll slow down growth/production.

[@macfrensonbee6914]

What the percentage of the beetle will successfully hatch?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Depends on how well they are taken care of, and the care they had as larvae before pupation. I'm at about 90-95% hatch rate.

[@JWilson-pu4fi]

Where did you get the blue trays?

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@JWilson-pu4fi Beekenkamp in the Netherlands. I currently buy them from Tricycle.eco in Canada.

[@scottminick9543]

Where to find wheat bran & the cost?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Feed supply stores. Cost will vary based on location and quantity purchased.

[@andrewtatesshorts5665]

I cant see to have eggs from adults

[@MidwestMealworms]

I don't understand what you mean?

[@jlathem56]

Th thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. What are the blue trays? And would you be willing to share your source for buying them ? The look like the bread trays we use to use in our restaurant but all the bread trays i have seen do not have a solid bottom.

[@MidwestMealworms]

The blue trays are from Beekenkamp in the Netherlands. They are mealworm rearing trays. I currently buy them from a distributor in Canada, Tricycle.eco.

[@jlathem56]

@@MidwestMealworms - found them. Thank you!

[@Mealworm387]

I have good expireince in mealworm farming do you need any helper or worker?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Not at the moment, I've got things covered. Thank you!

[@Mealworm387]

I pray for you and your busness going to high level but when you need staff for your farm remember me thank you.

[@ambercarter8267]

I have a lot of pupae dying. Are my beetles killing them? I am taking pupae out of the mealworm boxes daily and placing them in a separate box. I also take beetles out of the pupae box daily to place in their separate box. Thank you!

[@Mealworm387]

i have big expireince in mealwormfarming do you need any helper or worker .i am very exited if you give me more opertuni

[@kimmathew]

where do you buy the blue trays?

[@MidwestMealworms]

They are from Beekenkamp in the Netherlands, I currently get them from a company in Canada, Tricycle.eco

[@FuadsThoughtsAndDesires]

What species of meal worm is it

[@MidwestMealworms]

Tenebrio molitar

[@LM-wz9yw]

What type of tray is the big black tray you we sifting the mealworms down into that the pupae sifter fit so well into?

[@MidwestMealworms]

It is a seven gallon cement mixing tray, the bix box stores near me sell various kinds. They are great for budget trays, but unfortunately they don't stack so I had to build my own wooden towers to hold them.

[@mealwormsfarmingrawalpindi]

It's getting hard I don't know what to do please reply me as soon as possible

[@S.Trades]

What's getting hard? 😮😳

[@ISeeDeadGamers]

has any of the wooden slots in the middle break on the sifter ? i am thinking of buying this.

[@MidwestMealworms]

Yes, but I used the extra piece of the slat that's included with the sifter to fix it.

[@قرآنكريم-ر6ي]

Good luck

[@MistressOP]

do you think this system could be fully automated?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Yes, but that will require lots of funding for robots, software, etc.

[@privategallaxy]

How you remove dead mealworms, pupa and beetles ?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I don't remove dead pupae or beetles, I cull the entire tray once all habe pupated or died. For the larvae, I collect them in a tray, let them move for a few hours to collect in one spot, then remove them by hand.

[@jessicagomgom-o2158]

Hi! We want to start a meal worm farm preferably small scale only coz we don’t have the space and we just want to make one for our chickens and maybe have it as a small business . Any suggestion where we can order?

[@MidwestMealworms]

If you're in the US, I'm happy to ship to you. Or check out PNW mealworms.

[@jessicagomgom-o2158]

@@MidwestMealworms we’re here at Ocala, Florida..how much do you charge?

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@jessicagomgom-o2158 midwestmealworms.com, if you need more than 5000, let me know 😊

[@dallassmith3297]

Where can I get the equipment

[@MidwestMealworms]

Which equipment?

[@cyndis5501]

Are these food grade for people to eat?

[@MidwestMealworms]

No, these are raised to be used as feeders.

[@lostinspace2780]

I saw a video of someone that used small pieces of cloth in their beetle tray to collect many more eggs than just fall thru the seive or hide out in the substrate. The beetles lay lots of eggs on the cloth material so they can be removed often to protect the eggs. Have you tried this process before or used those paper towels to collect eggs?

[@MidwestMealworms]

No, that sounds like more manual steps that wouldn't be necessary. Do you have a link to the video?

[@lostinspace2780]

@@MidwestMealworms kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWqQfmaOi5xkmrs

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@lostinspace2780 thank you. It's an interesting idea, perhaps changing out the material helps reduce cannabalism from the males. Definitely worth testing. I may try that, if I do ill post it.

[@mealwormsfarmingrawalpindi]

I need your help brother reply me please my pupas are not transforming properly they are turning into disabled bettles all of them are not normal not few all pupas are like that please tell me solution I'm giving 60-65 humidity and 25 to 30 temperature

[@MidwestMealworms]

They likely need more moisture just before they pupate.

[@mealwormsfarmingrawalpindi]

@@MidwestMealworms thank you Soo much ❤️❤️❤️

[@Mealworm387]

​@@MidwestMealwormsdo you need any helper or worker in this field i have good expiriencr