A Superworm Farm addition to the Mealworm Farm is underway. Before the superworms arrive, I moved the whole set-up to the basement closet, with a floor area of 2 feet 3 inches wide by 10 feet long. The work table is the perfect height.
THE SUPERWORM FARM
August 3, 2017:
The order of 2000 superworms arrived. Both boxes were damaged by the carrier, and a deficit of 300 larvae was found. The seller sent a free replacement promptly. I divided the first order, approximately 850 larvae each, in two drawers with wheat bran and carrot and/or potato. The replacement order contained smaller yet more larvae, approx. 1300. Now, I will watch them grow and anticipate the first day the isolation process begins to encourage pupation.
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| This is what I use to house my mealworm and superworm farm. See the page on this blog, Mealworm Farm, for more details if interested. |
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| Two sets of isolation drawers sit in the corner of the work table, holding a total of 90 condiment cups. I expect lots of beetles! |
August 15, 2017:
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| I put the first 15 larvae in isolation, and plan is to put 15 in every other day or two, until all drawers are full. |
August 24, 2016:
My first superworm pupae was found in the very first cup I placed in the isolation drawer. As of today, I have 45 pupae in isolation. As pupae are found and moved out of isolation, a larvae is set to replace it.
September 6, 2017:
September 8, 2017:
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| First beetle! The long legs freaked me out when I touched it. But, I am sure I will get over that! |
IT'S OFFICIAL - I have moved the 8 beetles from isolation onto the plastic mesh-bottomed superworm beetle drawer. Let the breeding begin!
Photo Credit: Amie Oliver
October, 2017:
I have sold several superworm pupae and have maintained approximately 250 superworm beetles. I have seen the first tiny superworm larvae in the first nursery drawer.
November 2, 2017:
More expansion on the Superworm Farm. Addition of two units of shallow, dark drawers for isolation drawers and a 5-drawer unit below fills up the corner under the curtained shelves. Blue ice trays are ready for use to store pupae when the shallow top drawers of the 5-drawer unit are full.
(Left) A thermostatically-controlled space heater keeps the room at 78-82F degrees, with 80F being the goal. [Update: I reduced the heat to 73F, which maintains 70-75F depending on the outdoor temperature.] Low-tech method to add humidity to the room is a pan of water to evaporate as the heated air is blown across it! I strive for 50-60% R.H. (Right) The first drawer unit has the canvas-bottom beetle drawer in the first position, and larvae drawers under it, in age sequence. As needed, other drawers in this system can be used for larvae.
Another order of 1000 larvae arrived to grow and pupate; they are pretty small, so, it will take a while! I am currently using larvae from the previous purchase to pupate, breed and sale in small quantities.
November 2, 2017:
More expansion on the Superworm Farm. Addition of two units of shallow, dark drawers for isolation drawers and a 5-drawer unit below fills up the corner under the curtained shelves. Blue ice trays are ready for use to store pupae when the shallow top drawers of the 5-drawer unit are full.
(Left) A thermostatically-controlled space heater keeps the room at 78-82F degrees, with 80F being the goal. [Update: I reduced the heat to 73F, which maintains 70-75F depending on the outdoor temperature.] Low-tech method to add humidity to the room is a pan of water to evaporate as the heated air is blown across it! I strive for 50-60% R.H. (Right) The first drawer unit has the canvas-bottom beetle drawer in the first position, and larvae drawers under it, in age sequence. As needed, other drawers in this system can be used for larvae.
December 14, 2017:
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| 14 beetles from this mornings will remain in their pupation cups for approximately 8 hours in order to harden off to a deep bronze before adding to the beetle drawer. |
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| I am happy with my first harvest of superworm larvae. To feel otherwise would be difficult, because my goal was to have a harvest of superworms! Production numbers, at this point in my journey, matter not; I feel, as was with mealworms, the numbers will increase as I gain experience in farming them. |
I have had fair production results. My main problem is I do not transfer the beetles to new substrate on a regular basis, which, causes more cannibalism of eggs. I also have a tendency to fall behind in pupating for young beetle stock. Recently, I have started using cotton balls in the beetle bins, and this has upped my larvae production.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chickadoodlestn/posts/2239116746400302/
September 6, 2019:
I have continued using cotton balls in the morio beetles with success
Not much has changed in the superworm farm from 2018.
New photos added, 9/3/21 and 1/1/22 of current set-up
I have remodeled the closet and expanded to include dubia roaches to the feeder farm. Here is the link to farming dubia roaches:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chickadoodlestn/posts/2876178802694090/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chickadoodlestn/posts/1926768140968499/
The addition of dubia roaches to the insect farm has impacted the superworm breeding program in the last 9 months in this way: Instead of cupping larvae to pupate, I put them in the larger sized dubia roach nymph bins, about 15 to 20 at a time. The larvae help control moisture in the roach bins, and further break down any food, waste or decay of dead roaches, PLUS the superworms self-isolate in the egg crate and pupate on their own. This has been a very easy way to have a supply of young beetles. I remove the curled larvae, pupae or beetles as I find them. I have thrown away all condiment cups, and have more beetles, which seem to live longer than those I have force isolated before.
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