The substrate or bedding or substrate is an essential part of a mealworm farm. It provides mealworms a place to grow, molt and reproduce. What bedding you use can make or break the colony, so I will explain the essentials.
Wheat bran, oats and other grains are the best for mealworms. Add 1-3 inches of bedding to the mealworm container for the best results. Clean and replace the bedding every few weeks.
Types of Mealworm Bedding
There are a lot of materials you can use as bedding. Mealworms are not picky when it comes to substrates and the best options are very affordable. Here are my picks.
Wheat Bran
Wheat bran is one of the most popular bedding choices because of its affordability and availability. Wheat bran provides excellent moisture retention and nutritional content for mealworms.
Given a choice I always pick wheat bran It offers good ventilation and keeps the humidity at ideal levels. All the grain options here are great but given the choice I always use wheat bran.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another common bedding option as it is readily accessible. Lik wheat bran, oats have good moisture retention capacity. It is soft enough for mealworms to go through and is also nutritious.
Because oatmeal is soft, it is suitable for young mealworms. I also like to mix oatmeal with other materials to make it even more nutritious.
Rolled Oats
Similar to oatmeal, rolled oats provide a soft and nutrient-rich environment for mealworms. The flattened oats make it easier for mealworms to move around. You can use rolled oats as is or mix it with wheat bran and other bedding materials.
Cornmeal
Cornmeal is another good choice for two reasons. First it retains moisture so the container doesn’t get damp. Second, cornmeal provides mealworms with different textures and nutrients to feed on.
Cornmeal has a higher carbohydrate content compared to other bedding options. It should not be a problem though if you are going to use mealworms as feed for chickens.
Brewer’s Grain
Brewer’s grain is the residue left after malted barley is used in brewing beer. It has a coarse texture which makes waste removal easy. It also prevents clumping, so this is something to consider if you remove a lot of mealworm waste.
Coconut Coir
Coconut coir is natural, eco-and works well as mealworm bedding. Moisture retention is excellent and prevents foul odor. Coconut coir also promotes growth of beneficial microorganisms and can be reused after cleaning.
Peat Mos
Peat moss is highly absorbent and helps maintain a stable humidity level in the container. It can be acidic so I mix it with other bedding materials to balance the pH.
How Much Bedding Do Mealworms Need?
The substrate should be around 1-3 inches deep. This will allow the mealworms to burrow and have enough space to move around. Mealworms eat the bedding so you should replenish it when needed. It’s also important to remove waste to prevent mold and disease from spreading.
How to Clean Mealworm Bedding
No matter which material you choose, the cleaning process is basically the same. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Gather supplies: You will need rubber gloves, a large plastic container with a lid, fresh substrate, and a sieve or mesh screen. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from any potential contamination. Clean the area first before you begin.
Transfer mealworms: Using a sieve or mesh screen, carefully sift through the substrate to separate the mealworms from the old bedding. Gently shake or tap the sieve to let the mealworms fall through. Place the mealworms in a separate container.
Dispose of old bedding: Once you have successfully transferred the mealworms to their temporary container, dispose of the old bedding. Discard it properly according to your local waste disposal guidelines.
Clean the container: Clean the container thoroughly. Use warm water and mild dish soap to wash away any remains of substrate, waste or dead mealworms. Rinse it well to remove any soap residue. Allow it to air dry completely.
Add fresh substrate: Once the container is dry, add a fresh layer of substrate. About 1-3 inches is fine, but the more mealworms you have, the deeper the bedding has to be. A rule of thumb is 3 inches is enough for 1000 mealworms.
Return mealworms: Put the mealworms back in the container. Add bits of fruits or other food if you like. Repeat the process for any other mealworm containers you have
Mealworm Bedding Maintenance
If you are trying a different bedding material, observe how the mealworms respond. There should be no issues however, if you use cornmeal, wheat bran, oatmeal or any of those mentioned here.
Check for any signs of infestation, mold or excessive moisture. Any of these can negatively impact the health of your mealworms. Avoid placing the container in extreme temperatures as it can be fatal to the mealworms.
I suggest cleaning and replacing the substrate every couple of months or sooner if necessary. The frequency may depend on the size of the container, number of mealworms, or any signs of contamination. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases or parasites among your mealworms.
If you see dead mealworms, dispose of them at once. You should check first for any signs on why they died. This is necessary so if there is a disease, it will not spread and harm your other healthy mealworms.
Why Mealworms Need Bedding
Mealworms require bedding for a variety of reasons. It serves as a suitable substrate for the larvae to live in and provides them with a safe and natural environment. Here are other reasons why it is a essential.
Control humidity: the bedding helps to control moisture levels in the habitat. It absorbs excess moisture and prevents the container from becoming too wet or damp. If it gets too damp, mold, fungi and bacteria can spread and affect the mealworms.
Waste management: mealworms can produce a significant amount of waste. Bedding absorbs and neutralizes waste materials and keeps the environment. It prevents diseases from spreading and makes it easy for you to dispose of waste.
Related. How Much Frass Do Mealworms Produce?
Simulating nature. the substrate provides mealworms with a natural and enriched habitat. It mimics the ground where they would typically live in the wild. The mealworms can burrow into the bedding which offers them security and allows them to behave naturally. This is necessary for mealworms to go through their natural life cycle.
Nutritional benefits: beddings can contribute to the nutritional needs of mealworms. For instance. As I stated earlier, wheat bran, cornmeal, oatmeal and other grain-based beddings serve as both substrate and a nutritional source.
Temperature regulation: the substrate plays a crucial role in maintaining an optimal temperature for mealworms. It acts as insulation and prevents the container from being too hot or cold. The bedding can retain heat during cooler periods and dissipate excess heat during warmer conditions. No matter what the weather is like, the bedding keeps the temperature stable.
Molt assistance: mealworms go through multiple stages of molting as they grow. Bedding provides a soft and supportive medium for this process. It allows the larvae to easily shed their exoskeleton and serves protection.
Conclusion
The bedding is an integral part of any mealworm farm. It is, along with the container, where the larvae will go through the process of turning into pupae and beetles. If you are going to raise mealworms, you have to choose the appropriate bedding and regularly maintain it.
