Beetles in mealworm cup?

[OrangeCrush]

I bought a cup of mealworms awhile back and placed them in some oat meal. I have had them probably at least a few weeks now. I noticed that there was some funny looking bugs forming in the container. Then I noticed that there was a few darkish brown colored beetles in there. What r these bugs and is it normal for them to form in a container of mealworms? Also r they safe to feed to the Cham? I was thinking of just throwing them away but wud ask before I did so. Thanks everyone

 

[jdog1027]

I bought a cup of mealworms awhile back and placed them in some oat meal. I have had them probably at least a few weeks now. I noticed that there was some funny looking bugs forming in the container. Then I noticed that there was a few darkish brown colored beetles in there. What r these bugs and is it normal for them to form in a container of mealworms? Also r they safe to feed to the Cham? I was thinking of just throwing them away but wud ask before I did so. Thanks everyone

Mealworms will pupate into a cream colored 'Alien' looking bug as some call them, they will then emerge as a rust red colored beetle. They will eventually darken and turn solid black. The beetles will breed, lay eggs and boom- you'll have started a mealworm colony. More than likely you have some worms that have completed this process.

 

[OrangeCrush]

So the beetles are safe to feed to the Cham? And if I just keep the container I will end up with more mealworms down the road? I am currently trying to breed wax worms but it's my first time so I'll see how it goes. Never thought to breed meal worms because I don't really like feeding them to my Cham but I still do feed them once an awhile.

 

[jdog1027]

So the beetles are safe to feed to the Cham? And if I just keep the container I will end up with more mealworms down the road? I am currently trying to breed wax worms but it's my first time so I'll see how it goes. Never thought to breed meal worms because I don't really like feeding them to my Cham but I still do feed them once an awhile.

Yes- The beetles are safe to feed. I have an old Jackson female that loves them. You might do it sparingly, because they do have a 'Crunchy outer shell'. Mealworms can be used sparingly as well, although I can personally say that I have never had any problems associated with the tough exoskeleton they have. The general consensus is that they can cause blockage or impaction, but I yet to see it happen, but that's not to say that it couldn't happen. I actually raised a litter of Jackson babies on a diet consisting of almost 80-90% tiny mealworms, and they all turned out fine. And yes, you will eventually end up with more mealworms than you'll know what to do with if you allow the beetles to continue to occupy the container. Just be sure to keep some pieces of apple or carrot in the container, or the beetles will start to eat the small worms, eggs and pupae to obtain the necessary moisture.