Re: NANFA-L-- Food for Grindal worms

dlmcneely-in-lunet.edu
Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:30:19 -0600

I use _Tribolium confusum_ (confused flour beetle) for some labs in my zoology class. The entomologist I got the original culture from recommended using graham flour, with brewer's yeast sprinkled on top to cover, as the entire medium for these beetles. It has worked wonderfully well for me for four years, now. I use a quart canning jar, lid replaced with heavy paper held in place by the metal ring, filled half full of flour, for each culture. Each time I divide the culture, I simply put about half the culture into another jar, fill the jar up to half full with new flour, and top it off with brewer's yeast. At lab temp, I divide about twice a semester. Last summer I was away most of the summer, and I simply put the cultures in the fridge until I got back. Worked great.

I think the graham flour/brewer's yeast is the standard for research labs using these beetles, though they weigh the ingredients out.

I was told that after maybe 5-6 years, I should sieve the adults and big larvae out of the medium and discard the old medium. But so far, my "bugs" are healthy, and I haven't done that. I haven't used these beetles (only about a mm long) for fish food, but they should be as good as Pharoh ants, which aren't much bigger if any.

Re potting soil for worm medium: Most commercial potting soil contains fertilizers, usually pelleted, but sometimes crystalline. Such additives can be toxic to worms if they come in contact with them. Compost alone is better. Or a mixture of sawdust and compost, or even shredded newspapers. Commercial bedding medium is mostly composted sawdust.

Dave

David L. McNeely, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Langston University; P.O. Box 1500
Langston, OK 73050; email: dlmcneely-in-lunet.edu
telephone: (405) 466-6025; fax: 405) 466-3307
home page http://www.lunet.edu/mcneely/index.htm

"Where are we going?" "I don't know, are we there yet?"

----- Original Message -----
From: Sajjad Lateef <sajjadlateef-in-yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2005 1:51 pm
Subject: NANFA-L-- Food for Grindal worms

>
> I am feeding Soy Protien powder to both grindal worms and
> flour beetles (mixed in with whole wheat flour and oats).
> And, yes, I sprinkle it over the surface. I should make a
> furrow in the soil surface and just put the food in that
> furrow.
>
> I'll try some dog food for the grindal worms.
> Any recommended brand and type?
>
> Martin: So you think those are spider eggs? I used some
> potting soil as a base for the bedding. The spiders or other
> contaminants may have come from the potting soil.
> I will try to harvest what worms I can and switch to
> clean, shredded newspaper and coffee grounds for bedding.
> I think that will be best.
>
> Sajjad
>
>
> =====
> --
> Sajjad Lateef e-mail: sajjadlateef AT yahoo DOT com
> Chicago
>
>
>
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