58 
The Breedi/ig of Mcalivonnti. 
and a few linon or cotton rags. Into tliis conglomeration I 
turned a pound of the biggest mealwornio T could 
get, and put the tin in a warm place. In a few w^eks 
the mixture had sunk to more than half its original height, 
and Aviiul was left was mostly dust. 1 tilled up again with 
bran and tlour still keeping the tin in a warm place. 
In about two months from the start of these proceed- 
ings the box contained a large number of beetles, which 
were busj' laying eggs. 
I then transferred the whole lot from the biscuit 
tin into a galvanised iron sanitary bin (costing 3s.), and 
filled the dust-bin three parts full with l)ran, scraps of 
bread, waste seed, and pieces of sacking. The bin during 
cold weather is kept in a warm place in (a healed green -house, 
and when in full working order supplies a cup -full of meal- 
worms daiiy all through the summer. Last summer when I 
had several soft-bills to supply I had three such bins going, 
and even than could not satisfy the demands of a pair of 
Hoo]Joes with mealworms alone. 
Warmth and plenty of food is all that mealworms 
require. They will eat nearly anything in the farinaceous 
line, and seem to thrive best on stale bread and waste seed, 
eating husks and all. The powdered refuse which collects 
at the bottom of the breedi.ig tins should not be thrown away, 
as it contains hundreds of eggs. When the beetles necome 
few in number, the largest of the mealwornrs should be left 
to turn into beetles, to keep up the !?upply of eggs. Needless 
to say the covers should be kept on the breeding tins, as the 
beetles have wings and can fly. Some breeders recommend 
that a covering ui gauze or nnislin siiould be fastened over 
the tops of the tins, instead oi the proper covers, to admit (air, 
but I found the loose fitting covers or the dust-bins admitted 
all tiic. air tliat was necessary. 
I did not keep any data respecting the various i)eriods 
in the life history oi the mealworm, but estimate them as 
follows : — 
Larva 
Pupa 
Imago 
Egg 
2 weeks 
8 weeks 
2 or H weeks 
Until the eggs ai'e 
